Church, Communion and Germs

During the initial phase of the recent flu outbreak there was a great deal of talk about spreading germs in church – especially during the sharing of The Eucharist (Holy Communion). Drawing on information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), recent studies from the scientific community, and publications from various denominations, I have put together a list of things to consider.

Most germs are exchanged during handshakes with others. Hands are more likely to be a source of infection than lips. Handshakes and hugs are the most likely way microbes are passed.

Sitting in a pew with people near you sneezing or coughing is the next most likely way to receive microbes.

Anne Loving, a microbiologist, has conducted 2 studies on the presence and spread of germs during Holy Communion. She discovered that there was no statistical difference between people who received Holy Communion every day, those who received every Sunday, and those who never went to Church. What she did discover was that people with children were more likely to get sick than those without small children.

The safest form of distributing Holy Communion is intinction using wafers and having one person (e.g., the pastor) handle the wafers and dip each one into the cup and place the wafer on the worshiper’s tongue.

The next safest method is the one we use at the traditional services. Again one person handles the bread or wafers and individual disposable cups are used.

The method of intinction used in our contemporary service carries the greatest likelihood of spreading microbes. (But even that method is safer than shaking hands.)

Here are the recommendations that I make after consulting these sources.

• We will use a lavabo bowl as part of the worship service. The bowl should be set up with soapy water and a clean towel for each Communion Server per service should be provided (that would be 4 towels for the traditional services and 2 for the contemporary). The Communion Servers will wash their hands before the Prayer of Great Thanksgiving.

• People who have a cold or the flu should stay at home. If you are at church and feel you may be coming down with a bug, wait until others have communed and come forward in the last group to receive.

• During flu and cold outbreaks the Passing of the Peace should be done by nodding and greeting those around you without a handshake.

• In the Contemporary Worship service, parents should dip the bread or wafer into the cup for their small children. Everybody should be careful to not touch the juice or the inside of the cup with their fingers.

• Sunday School teachers of small children should encourage the children to wash their hands at the beginning and end of Sunday School time using the class’s sink and soap dispenser.

• Other Sunday School classes should consider keeping hand sanitizer in the classrooms.

The following sources are found online and some contain references to scientific studies and journals. Links will be available on the online version at http://hermeneutic.org/.

1. Benedict, Daniel and Taylor Burton-Edwards, Swine Flu, Hygiene, and Holy Communion. General Board of Discipleship Website (accessed 4/30/2009).
   http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=7908&loc_id=9,10,27

2. Benedict, Daniel and Taylor Burton-Edwards, Clean Hands and Pure Hearts: Hygiene and Holy Communion. General Board of Discipleship website (accessed 4/30/2009).
   http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=1766&loc_id=9,10,39

3. Gould, David H. BA, MD, CM, FRCPC, FICA, A.Th. Eucharistic Practice and the Risk of Infection. The Anglican Church of Canada website (accessed 4/30/2009).
   http://www.anglican.ca/faith/ministry/euc-practice-infection.htm

4. Loving, Anne LaGrange. Holy Communion and Infection Risks: an Age-Old Concern. Lutheran Partners, July/August 1999, Volume 14, Number 4. Accessed from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America website. (accessed 4/30/2009).
   http://archive.elca.org/lutheranpartners/archives/intinct.html

5. Faith-Based & Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist. The Centers for Disease Control.
   http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/faithcomchecklist.html