When Presbytery agrees to the request from a parish it appoints a tutor/trainer. It is expected that the tutor will meet with one or more elders in a group for 4 sessions at about fortnightly intervals. The first session should explore the elder's understanding, other study and training they have done, their expectations and the time-frame for the training. A pdf form to gather information and guide the process can be downloaded : Elder Communion Training
The text is Celebrating Communion. Key chapters are
Key ideas
We are bringing together three contexts :
the church's story of communion and its meaning
the elder's story of ministry and call to this role
the profile of the congregation or group where this ministry will be exercised.
The assignments may be worked at over the sessions and made a basis for discussion on each of these three contexts and their interaction.
Suggested learning goals
1. To be able conduct a service of communion using an order of service which is appropriate to our church's understanding of the nature of communion and relevant to the context in which communion is being celebrated.
2. To be able to explain a Reformed understanding of Communion and its historical development to a congregation.
3. To be broadly familiar with the influence of Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and Knox in our understanding of communion.
4. To know where to find good worship resources and common liturgical forms.
5. To be able to identify the different sections of the communion liturgy and explain their significance.
6. To be able to conduct a communion liturgy with a sense of occasion, expressed in appropriate movements, gestures, and pausation.
7. To be able to direct as necessary other elders involved in the setting out of the communion table, and their roles in removing and replacing cloths (if used) and in distributing the elements.
8. To be aware of how interpretation affects understanding: knowing where interpretations come from - how the meaning of words and actions are affected by the person, their context, the relevant New Testament passages and how these have been understood in different times and places in Christian history.
Assignments
1. The preparation of a communion liturgy.
2. Writing an accompanying essay which could be the basis of a sermon explaining to a congregation what is going on in communion.
3. Conducting a service including preaching and the celebration of communion and discussing the service with the presbytery trainer.
Training Sessions
1. Telephone contact and initial meeting with tutor. Share story of how you came to be an elder, why your church is asking that you be training, and the places and occasions where you are likely to be asked to celebrate communion. Discuss training and experience you have already have and your expectations and concerns. Go over the learning goals listed above and the assignment. Identify a time frame: - when will be the first service you expect to conduct?
2. Chapter two of Celebrating Communion: The history and theology of the Lord's Supper and Presbyterians and Communion. Please read beforehand and come with questions!
3. Chapter three of Celebrating Communion: The structure and content of Communion services .
4. Discussion of assignments one and two (in draft form at least - they can be finalised later).
5. Discussion after the service about what you liked best
and what you would do next time.
Other Resources
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, Directory for worship.
John Roxborogh