Communion for non-Catholics

[goodstarr]

Just wondering, I know that for Catholics, children go thru a process to prepare for their first communion around the 2nd grade. For those of you who aren't Catholic, after what time or age (or process) do you allow your children to take their first communion?

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I am Lutheran. We start taking Communion towards the end of 8th grade.

We also have to go through a process to be able to take it.

 

[Towncrier]

The policy of the United Methodist Church (as I understand it) is that anyone who professes a belief in Jesus Christ is welcome to partake of the ritual of communion. There are no age limits nor restrictions. The children do go through training classes when they are in the 4th grade. These confirmation classes teach the children the tenants of the United Methodist Church and prepare them for membership in the church.

All things said, when I was a child, my parents discouraged me from partaking of communion until after I had been through confirmation classes.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm Episcopalian. When I was growing up communion could only be taken after you were confirmed which was at the end of 6th grade. I think the age has been lowered to about 8 but I'm not positive about that.

 

[luv2nascar]

Lutheran and it is end of 8th grade for our church
they have to go to classes to be confirmed

 

[DVC-Don]

Also Lutheran and at our church it is after age 10.

 

[goofy4tink]

Another Episcopalian here. We used to have our first communion at the time of confirmation, around age 13. Now, anyone at all, that has been baptized, can receive communion. Our church does hold 'first communion' classes for the kids around 7, but they've all been receiving already. My dd was the only child in church that wasn't receiving until she actually had a First Communion. She did the white dress, flowers in her hair. But, we just did it as a family in the midst of the Easter service. I instructed her at home and when she joined a class later that year, the teacher said that Katie actually knew more than she did!!! I think its' nice to have the kids actually understand what's happening. But, that is just my opinion. Definatly in the minority now.

 

[katerkat]

United Methodist, and my parents let us start taking it as soon as we could fully explain why we take Communion. I started around third grade, I believe. Confirmation classes weren't until 8th grade.

 

[tc]

I belong to a non-denominational church. Anyone who has accepted the Lord as their Saviour and been baptized as an act of their first obedience, can take communion. It can happen at any age, but a very young child will be questioned exceedingly to make sure he or she understands the full meaning of salvation and baptism. Our church does have a class for kids grades 3-6, explaining salvation, baptism and communion thoroughly, but each child has to make the decision personally.

 

[Alice28]

non-denominational Christian here; anyone at our church can take communion, as long as they believe Christ is their savior and have been baptized. So, I would say as young as 8 or so..

 

[Piglet's Pal]

My DS11 is going through 1st Communion classes right now, he is in 5th grade and we are Lutheran. He will have confirmation classes when he is 13. I grew up in a different Lutheran Church than we attend now and we did not have our 1st Communion until we were confirmed during 8th grade.
PP

 

[Judy from Boise]

Baptist. My Dh and I let our DD take communion for the first time at the good friday service when she was 7. She had made a proffession of faith and we thought it would be very meaningful to her.

 

[Talking Hands]

Baptist here. Children are welcome to take communication after they have accepted Christ as their Savior (profession of faith) That would be as young as 5 or 6 in some cases. Most of the time parents don't allow it until they are sure that the child understands what communion signifies. Many Baptist churches now have a class for elementary children who have made their profession of faith to explain the workings of the church and make sure that they understand what they are doing and what it means in their life and that it was not forced. After that class they can be baptized and official join the church membership.

 

[Karel]

Lutheran and it's my understanding that now it's whenever the parent feels the child can 'understand' but 2nd grade is recommended. My three children all went to class together when my daughter was in second grade and my boys were slightly older. Then Confirmation is seventh and eighth grade. When I was growing up, it was when you were confirmed.

 

[lisajl]

Lutheran here, too.

I'm with Karel on this one. Our church started letting younger kids take communion after they attended classes with the pastor.

Lisajl

 

[disykat]

Also Lutheran.

We have early communion classes with the Pastor too. At my church the target age is 4/5th grade, but many kids choose to attend earlier. Occasionally someone will have first communion at their confirmation, but those are usually kids who are newer to our church.

 

[Otto's Doll]

We are Presbyterian (USA) and the policy in our church is that any baptized believer can take communion (visitors/members). My kids both have been taking it for quite some time, but only after DH and I were sure that there was a real understanding of Christ as Lord and Savior, and what He sacrificed for us. Both my kids will take Confirmation classes in 7th grade. (At the end of this year long class, the kids will be invited to make a public profession of faith and then will become full members of our church. Is that the case in each of the other churches that are represented here?)

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think my church (Episcopalian) confirms until almost 15 y/o. But, my two oldest were never confirmed and my Katie is only 10, so I could be wrong. I remember that my dh was asked by a young man who was about 15 to mentor him during confirmation class tho. Back in the '60's we were confirmed at 13.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I'm Lutheran, and last year I inquired to my church about getting my DD involved in their First Communion/Confirmation. The response from my pastor is this: "First Communion instruction is held for fourth graders each year, though individual instruction can be arranged. Confirmation begins in eighth grade".

 

[Manda1219]

Another Lutheran here!
5th grade for Communion, 8th for Confirmation