BCO 58 is not merely about “how to do communion.” It is about how Christ feeds His people, how elders oversee the Table, how ministers explain the gospel signified in bread and wine, and how the whole congregation is called to come with faith, repentance, thanksgiving, and hope.

Frequently, and for Edification

The chapter begins directly: “The Communion, or Supper of the Lord, is to be observed frequently; the stated times to be determined by the Session of each congregation, as it may judge most for edification.”

The BCO does not define “frequently.” The PCA does not prescribe weekly communion, monthly communion, quarterly communion, or some other fixed schedule. Instead, the Session of each congregation is charged to determine the stated times “as it may judge most for edification.”

The question is not merely, “How often do we prefer to have the Supper?” Nor is it, “What is the newest trend?” Nor even, “What schedule makes the most practical sense for the people preparing the elements?” Those questions may be part of the discussion, but the central question is: What will most edify this congregation?

There are good arguments for greater frequency. The Supper is a means of grace. It is not a mere memorial in the sense of mental recollection only. Christ uses it to nourish the faith of His people. If the Supper strengthens believers, supports them under trouble, encourages them in duty, increases faith, and gives peace of conscience, then we should want the people of God to receive it often.

At the same time, frequency is a circumstance of worship governed by wisdom, prudence, and the condition of the congregation. Some churches may be able to administer the Supper weekly with reverence, clarity, and care. Others may find that weekly communion becomes rushed, tacked on, or treated as ordinary in the worst sense. Some larger congregations face practical issues of time, preparation, and distribution. Smaller churches without a regular minister may struggle to observe the Supper as often as they desire. In those cases, Sessions should not simply accept long neglect as inevitable, but should seek appropriate ministerial help so the congregation is not deprived of the sacrament.

The Supper belongs to the gathered Church. It is not a private ritual or an ad hoc devotional act. It is administered under the oversight of the elders in the public worship of God. That is one reason the Session determines its stated times. The Table is not the possession of the minister, nor of individual members, nor of families. It belongs to Christ, and Christ has entrusted its oversight to the Church.

Guarding the Table

BCO 58-2 says, “The ignorant and scandalous are not to be admitted to the Lord’s Supper.”

The Lord’s Supper is not evangelistic in the way the preached Word is evangelistic. Unbelievers should hear the Word. They should be urged to repent and believe in Christ. They should remain in the service and observe the Supper. But they should not receive the bread and wine as though they are already communing with Christ by faith.

The same is true for those who are “ignorant” or “scandalous.” These are not terms meant to be harsh or insulting. The “ignorant” are those who do not understand the gospel or the nature of the Supper. This includes children who have not yet made a credible profession of faith and others who, for whatever reason, are unable to discern what is being signified and sealed. The “scandalous” are those whose lives are marked by open, unrepentant sin inconsistent with a credible profession of faith.

This is why fencing the Table matters. The minister does not fence the Table to keep weak believers away. He fences it to warn the unbelieving, the unrepentant, and the self-deceived, while encouraging weary Christians to come to Christ for strength. There is a world of difference between the scandalous sinner who refuses repentance and the struggling believer who hates his sin and desires more grace.

The Supper is not for the self-satisfied. It is for those who know they need Christ. The doubting believer who sincerely desires to belong to Christ should not be driven away from the Table. He should be encouraged to come, not because his faith is strong, but because Christ is strong. The Table is not a reward for the spiritually impressive. It is food for the hungry, medicine for the weak, and comfort for those who cling to Christ.

Preparing for a Holy Feast

BCO 58-3 says public notice should be given to the congregation at least the Sabbath before the administration of the Supper, and that the people should be instructed in its nature and in due preparation “that all may come in a suitable manner to this holy feast.”

The Supper is not a bare ritual. It is not a gloomy exercise in religious introspection. It is a feast. But it is a holy feast, and therefore we should prepare.

Preparation does not mean morbid self-examination. It does not mean that communicants must spend the week trying to remember every sin they have ever committed so they can decide whether they are worthy enough to come. No one comes because he is worthy in himself. We come because Christ is worthy, and because He invites sinners who trust in Him.

Still, preparation is real. We examine ourselves. We consider whether we are living in repentance and faith. We seek reconciliation with brothers and sisters where needed. We confess sin. We pray for grace. We teach our children what is coming. We remind ourselves that Christ is about to set before us the visible signs of His broken body and shed blood.

In a busy age, many Christians need help preparing. A notice in the bulletin may not be enough. A reminder in the pastoral prayer, a brief word the week before, a family worship emphasis, a devotional email, a Wednesday evening meditation, or a preparatory service can all help the congregation come thoughtfully and expectantly.

BCO 58-8 even urges congregations, according to past Presbyterian custom, to have a service of spiritual preparation during the week before the celebration of the sacrament. That may sound foreign to many of us, but the impulse is worth recovering.

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