PREFACE FROM ARCHBISHOP HOWARD GREGORY
The House of Bishops of the Church in the Province of the West Indies, conscious of the fact that since the 1960’s the issue of admission of the baptized to full communicant status has re-surfaced with various Provinces of the Anglican Communion pursuing different policies, embarked on a process of reflection on our sacramental theology and pastoral and liturgical practices as these relate to Christian initiation and admission to Holy Communion over more than a decade.
During this time the process involved deliberations within the House of Bishops, The Doctrinal Commission and the Liturgical Commission of the Province. The House of Bishops decided to join with the rest of the Anglican Communion that received the conclusion of the International Liturgical Consultation as an authoritative guide. It stated in part:
“Baptism is the sacramental sign of full incorporation into the body of Christ. Thus, all who are baptized should be welcomed into the Eucharistic fellowship of the church.” Persons who support this view maintain that since we are made members of the family of God by adoption in baptism, every baptized person should be able to be fed with the church’s principle food. It is now beyond dispute that in the Early Church baptism led to Eucharistic participation i.e. there was no insistence on Confirmation as the gateway to Holy Communion. It is highly significant that the Eastern Orthodox Church has never insisted on Confirmation as the gateway to Holy Communion.
Consequently, the House of Bishops having arrived at a decision, presented to the Provincial Synod 2019 a paper entitled Baptism and Communion in Anglicanism for the purpose of study across the Province, and recommended to the Synod the acceptance of the change being proposed for its approval and for its implementation after study by clergy and laity across the Province until the next meeting of the Synod. The Synod approved.
At the Provincial Synod 2022 an assessment was made of the progress with the studies, workshops, and congregational sessions conducted in the dioceses and it was determined that, due to the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and its disruptive effects, the period of study and preparation for the change should be extended. The House of Bishops, with the concurrence of the Provincial Synod, after reviewing the work that had been undertaken in the various dioceses in preparation for this change to Baptism as the gateway to Holy Communion decided that the date for implementation across the Province was to be the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2023.
With this change there has been a review of the understanding of Confirmation under this dispensation. Confirmation will be retained, but will be an adult expression of faith by which the church prays that candidate will be further empowered by the Holy Spirit for Christian witness and ministry which was received in Baptism. It signifies a new stage in the continuous deepening of the adult’s relationship with God that began at Baptism. Those who were baptized in infancy now make a public confession of faith and commitment to Christ and the church’s mission and ministry. The Spirit continues the work begun in baptism to enlighten, free, transform and sanctify those who in baptism were adopted as children of God.
There are attendant challenges to the implementation of these changes, such as the admission of children to Communion, and the admission to Communion of adults baptized as infants but not Confirmed, but these are being addressed by the diocesan bishops and the literature and other material that have already been produced for use by clergy, congregations, parents and lay leaders within the life of congregations.
As a consequence of these changes to the Rites of Christian Initiation, it has become necessary to produce a Supplement to the Prayer Book of the Church in the Province of the West Indies that incorporates them. We commend its use to the faithful of the Province and pray that having this material in hand will allow for a deep appreciation of the transition that is now underway, and why this is a desired restatement of the tradition to which most have been accustomed.
Many have contributed to leading and facilitating the various opportunities for study and reflection of the various levels of the life of the Province. We give thanks for their contribution and pray that our worship, witness and life as a Province will be enriched and deepened through this movement of transition.
HOWARD JAMAICA AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
Archbishop, Primate, and Metropolitan