Woman Priest Chalice words

WORDS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF CHALICE - WOMAN CELEBRANT.

A woman priest has been invited to celebrate at my church. If possible, I will arrange for another Eucharistic minister to administer the Chalice. If this is not possible, what words do you suggest I use when I offer the Chalice to the people? Obviously I cannot say, "The Blood of Christ."

REPLIES

2/6/11

Suggest you walk away - I wouldn't even turn up for the Mass. That way offence is not caused to either you nor the 'celebrant'. (Find your nearest ABC parish where this would not occur - sacraments guaranteed!)

2/6/11

Either you believe it is the “Blood of Christ” or you don’t…how can you in good conscience take part in the service, let alone administer the chalice if you don’t believe it is the Precious Blood???

2/6/11

How can you with a clear conscience possibly administer a chalice that contains a liquid that you yourself obviously do not believe is the precious blood? If it is not possible to persuade someone else to administer the chalice, why cannot the “celebrant” herself administer it after she has administered the “host”?

Robert Tucker - 2/6/11

If you cannot say the proper words I think you should be honest and tell the lady that you will not minister with her. This sort of attitude does not forward the ministry of the Church. It also makes the Church look ridiculous in the eyes of "the unchurched" My own parish is in interregnum and this morning I served for the O.L.M. from the neighbouring parish and administered the chalice to a small congregation of elderly people who come every Thursday for a said Eucharist followed by a lunch.
There will be a Sung Eucharist this evening at 7.30
Robert Tucker
Sacristan Saint Mary Magdalen Coventry

Rick Savage - 2/6/11

If you are assisting a women priest as an altar server or Eucharistic minister, then you should behave exactly as you would with a male priest. If you cannot do this, then you must absent yourself.
Rick Savage

2/6/11

The only way to behave is to make it known that you are unable to accept the situation and if the members of your church insist that she officiate in this quasi-eucharistic service then she must be left to deal with it all herself.

Fr. David Moore - 2/6/11

I suggest 'Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you'....B.C.P.words.
BUT what a hopeless and undesirable situation. I suggest the writer presses on trying to find a replacement to administer the chalice of ....what?
Fr.David Moore.

Dave Higgott - 2/6/11

I see no problem with the words ‘the blood of Christ’ the elements were consecrated by a priest and the Apostolic Succession is intact.
Dave Higgott

2/6/11

Why not use the words in the original BCP, 'The Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Take, drink, in remembrance that Christ died for you'.This removes the idea of the Real Presence, as intended by the Reformers.

2/6/11

Be brave, put out of your mind all thoughts regarding invalidity of women priests and accept that it will be the Blood of Christ that you will present to the people. Who are you to challenge the sanctity of the Eucharistic celebration at Mass of a woman? Like it or not, she is a priest and has the right to celebrate at Christ's altar wherever she is invited

2/6/11

If you cannot say “The Blood of Christ”, I think it best if you withdraw from the duty all together. Do not be present. I wonder why you cannot say this.

3/6/11

If you cannot say 'the blood of Christ' then you should not be at that 'celebration' - to administer the chalice at all will appear as a vindication of what is going on, and to alter the words an act of rudeness to the woman who thinks she is a priest and to others who believe her to be so. Either use the words or absent yourself. And if you remain opposed to the ordination of women, you really need to be worshipping elsewhere with orthodox believers and an indubitably real Mass

3/6/11

I would not attend as I feel that the Mass would not be valid - I would go to another church

John Hill - 3/6/11

I would not attend a Mass with a woman 'celebrating' much less would I serve or administer the chalice. I am afraid this sort of situation will become more common and the time will come when I for one will have to seriously consider my options. What a sad situation.
John Hill

John Hill - 3/6/11

Robert Vague - 4/6/11

To absent yourself from duties such as serving at the altar or administering the chalice for the reasons you state would be an insult both to the visiting woman priest and to the members of your congregation who, one assumes, have invited her to celebrate the Eucharist at your church. We live in changing times, not necessarily for the better, but nevertheless we as members of the GSS have accepted women members of the guild and allow them the same privileges as male members. I have been a member of the GSS for over 50 years and feel that it is time that the guild rethinks its position regarding the validity of women priests' orders. I have no problems with accepting women priests and count many as friends and colleagues as a Reader in a parish where we are broad minded and accept ministries of men and women without prejudice to their gender. You should accept that when a woman celebrates the Eucharist the consecrated elements of Bread and Wine are the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and feel able to say "The Blood of Christ" when you administer the chalice at Mass with out any doubts or uncertainties. Robert Vague

4/6/11

If you do not believe in a woman's priestly ministry, why have you not either found a replacement or made your apologies already to say that in all conscience you cannot attend the mass? I'm sure the celebrant would rather you did that rather than administer, when it sounds in your post that you don't want to be there anyway.

David Fordham - 5/6/11

The best advice I can give is to not attend! As it will be a lay celebration, or if you do, sit in the congregation and do not participate in the receiving of bread and wine, as it will not be the Body and Blood of Christ. Not that helpful I know, but it makes the point not only to the women priest, but also to the congregation.
David Fordham

Roger Emery - 5/6/11

The Wardens question in his previous statement on The Ordination of Women, “ By Whose Authority ? ” in itself say’s it all, To compare the admission of Women Servers ( which I totally support) to the Ordination of Women as Priests has no validity. The Guilds position is quite clear, and has been revisited many times by General Council. The best solution to the writers problem is to Get off the Fence and Stay Away, this is the gentlest way to avert any further hurt to anyone, whatever their position.
Roger Emery
Group Councillor PG3 Sussex

Pete Conabeer - 4/7/11

I was the server who asked this question of the Forum.
I feel heartened by Fr David's reply. I had already decided to use those words if I had to administer the chalice. The "woman celebrant" was invited to conduct the service because our Parish Priest was away for the weekend, and our congregation, in the main, had agreed that they had no objection to this happening.

However, I am the Sacristan, Licensed Reader, MC and "sub deacon" and I felt that I could not absent myself from the Service when the Parish Priest had asked me to look after things. I must add that at least one member of the congregation, a churchwarden, also did not take "communion"

As it happened, another Eucharistic Minister was available so the situation did not arise. At the time of "communion", I simply went and sat down while the administration of the bread and wine took place. The woman "priest" did offer a blessing but I declined this as I feel that only a male priest can give a blessing.

Please thank Fr David for his answer.

If you wish to reply to this e mail, please use my home email address: pete.conabeer@blueyonder.co.uk Best Regards Pete.