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Synod: Communion

by
18 July 2014

IN ORDER to give effect to a previous diocesan-synod motion from Southwell & Nottingham to permit children to assist in the distribution of holy communion, and for parishes, if a bishop consented, to decide for themselves who assisted with the distribution, it was necessary to change Canon B12, said the Revd Alan Jeans (Salisbury).

This was because the Canon referred to "lay people specially authorised by the bishop".

The Draft Amending Canon was "a necessary preliminary step towards implementing" the diocesan motion.

If the wording of the Canon wasn't changed, the Synod could not make any regulations that would allow an incumbent, priest-in-charge, or rural dean, acting with the support of a PCC in a vacancy, to permit somebody to distribute communion in the parish; or a head teacher in the case of a school.

Amending the Canon was merely the first step, and Regulations would need to be approved at a later date.

After questions from Canon Chris Lilley (Lincoln) about safeguarding, the Draft Amending Canon was sent to a revision committee.

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