Reply #112: I was Presbyterian and I'm telling you there are Presbyterian churches

[DemBones DemBones]

that have closed Communion, on a local basis. No, it's not official Presbyterian policy but it exists. I've seen it.

Here's a truly weird story: When I was a teenager and my family moved to another state, the local Presbyterian church would not accept our membership letters unless we took the class that people seeking to join the church would take. I told my mother I wouldn't do that. She insisted it wasn't a bad idea, we could learn more, etc. I said, "Bullshit, we were both born into this church and they can't demand that we do this. And they're demanding it, not just suggesting it." After a couple of weeks, my father, who was an elder (and you know you're an elder for life in the Presbyterian church, even when not actively serving) said, "You know, this is really bullshit" and they started going to a Congregational church while I went to an Episcopal church.

I have also attended Episcopal churches in several states and sometimes there were hints that communion was closed. My Methodist mother-in-law was told outright that she could not take Communion in a particular Episcopal church, aftee years of being able to take Communion in another Episcopal church when visiting family. It may not be official policy for the denomination, but it exists, and in more than one local church.

Lutherans, Baptists, and all the Orthodox churches also have closed Communion, plus Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.