Troubleshooting Gluten Free Communion

Offering gluten free communion is an incredible thing to do. It welcomes everyone to the Lord's table together. It includes those with food allergies in the joyful celebration of the Lord's supper. It says to a congregation, "We are here together. Old and young, male and female, rich and poor, those who can eat wheat and those who can't."

The church I serve in Wisconsin didn't bat an eye when I told them I couldn't eat wheat. The head deacon at the time asked, simply, "Well then what bread should we use? Let me know and we'll go get it."

It was such a gracious gesture of welcome that it brought tears to my eyes.

Since my first day we have used gluten free bread for our communion services (dairy- and nut-free, too!). Since my first day, I have been able to partake and celebrate the sacrament without fear of stray crumbs.

Yet there is often a bit of a learning curve when it comes to using gluten free bread. It isn't as simple as switching from white to wheat, as gluten free foods can behave differently than "normal" ones.

I've gotten a handful of emails recently asking for help troubleshooting various communion troubles, so I thought I'd lay out some solutions for all of you faithful churchgoers out there who are seeking to welcome everyone to the Lord's table, regardless of food issues.

So, without further ado...

Troubleshooting Gluten Free Communion

Problem 1: "This Tastes Funny."
Gluten free bread is different than "normal" bread. Some varieties do taste different. But many come very close to regular bread (I am a big fan of both Udi's white bread and Canyon Bakehouse white bread as the best tasting for communion).

Make sure you are using one of the best versions out there. If you offer any old gf bread, you may be in for a bad-tasting experience, which can quickly turn a congregation off to the idea of gluten free bread.

Yet even if the bread isn't people's favorite taste, it's also important to remind folks that communion isn't snack time. The sacrament isn't about the bread--it's about the body of Christ. Isn't it better to take one bite of something that tastes funny than to make someone else in the church sick or completely excluded from the sacrament?

Problem 2: "This is Crumbly."
Some gf breads are more crumbly than others. I learned this the hard way last February at a major denomination event (see my red-faced post The Crumbs of Heaven!).

Try a few varieties of bread to find one that holds together well. Store-bought loaves tend to work better than home baked ones, and store-bought frozen ones work the best yet.

Store your bread in the freezer until the day before it is to be used. Gluten free breads left out on the counter dry quickly, and those in the fridge dry out even more quickly.

At our church we leave the bread in the freezer and thaw it out the night before. Our deacons set up communion and cover the bread with cling wrap until just before the service starts. This gives the bread no time to dry out, and keeps it moist for the service.

Problem 3: "This is Drippy."
Gluten free breads are often not as absorbant as their gluten-containing counterparts. One wonderful church administrative assistant emailed me recently to ask for help in avoiding a "purple polka dot floor" after intinction with gluten free bread. A great visual, but a clear problem!

The freezer storage methods mentioned above can help lock in moisture and absorbency, but a little education can help as well.

A pastor can easily give instructions for intinction ("Keep your spare hand under the dipped bread to avoid drips!"). Bigger pieces of bread will also absorb more wine or juice, leading to fewer drips. After a few Sundays, most people get the hang of the new element.

Problem 4: "We Sort-of Offer GF Communion."
This is the biggest problem of the list. I hear often from churches who "sort-of" offer gf communion. They might offer gluten free bread on the same tray as regular bread, or offer gluten free wafers that can be dipped in the same chalice as glutenous ones.

THIS IS BAD, friends.

Why? Because if a church does not guard vigilantly against cross-contamination, it is not offering gluten free communion at all. If you are offering gluten free bread or wafers, they cannot touch gluten. They cannot be cut with the same knife, placed on the same tray, or even handled by the same pair of hands (without a good scrubbing in between). They cannot be dipped in the same chalice where crumbs are floating from the glutenous bread.

This is an all-or-nothing game. Offer it and make it 100% safe, or do not offer it at all.

This does not mean a church has to be all gluten free for communion (though this is my theological preference, as it means people truly are sharing in a common element together).

A separate station for gf intinction with safe wafers/bread and wine/juice is one easy option. Another is to offer gf bread or wafers in small, sealed cups like these with lids like these.

If you offer regular and gf communion, be sure preparers and servers are well briefed in keeping the items separate. Many churches find that it's far easier to offer all gluten free communion than to worry about cross-contamination in the preparation process.

Problem 5: "The Pastor Won't Use GF Bread/Wafers."

Send the schmo to me. I'll set him/her straight.

Just kidding (though, of course, you're welcome to hit me up over email with any troublesome gluten free pastor problems!).

If your pastor is resistant, I'd work to make a straightforward and compassionate case for offering gf communion, and I'd schedule an appointment to talk about it. Sunday morning, 3 minutes before the service starts, is not the right time. After church can be a crazy time, too.

Set up an appointment and gently make your case - 1% of the population suffers from celiac, many more from nut or dairy allergies. Offering gluten free communion is a gesture of welcome and inclusion. Tell him/her if you are willing to do the research, the prep, or the ordering of the elements. Tell them if you are willing to help train the deacons or servers. Tell them if you're willing to help make the case to the board of elders or trustees or powers that be.

A little kindness can go a long way. There's a lot that comes across a pastor's desk each day, and this may not be the top of his/her priority list until you show how important it can be.



Have another question about offering gluten free communion? Leave a comment or shoot me an email - I'm happy to help!