Intercommunion
Presidential address for 1965 to the Leighton Club. A confusing situation pertains at the momment, with some churches opening table to others, and the anomalies this produces. Some of the theological misunderstandings behind this. In the context of the search for unity, intercommunion is in itself not the end in itself. The writer sees this as urgent and offers four principles: the one-ness of the church, baptism in other denominations is accepted, the Lord's Table to be the emphasis rather than Eucharist as a 'rite'. The author favours the approach that intercommunion be possible and desirable after certain significant steps towards unity are taken rather than when full unity has otherwise been achieved. T F Torrance quoted: The Eucharistic communion does not add anything to the wholeness of Baptismal incorporation, but it is a renewal of the Church's oneness in the Body of Christ, and such an anticipation of the fulness to come that through it the Church may live out boldly and spiritually in the midst of the broken and divided world the oneness of the Body of Christ'.