Written by Staff | Monday, November 4, 2013

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At its stated meeting on November 2, 2013, Heartland Presbytery voted to prohibit the practice of intinction in the churches within its bounds. Heartland is a presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

Intinction is the practice in a communion service of participants dipping the bread into the wine before it is eaten. There has been debate within the PCA for a number of years about whether intinction is a proper way to partake of the communion elements.

The discussion on intinction within Heartlanad Presbytery began at its November 2011 stated meeting. The Presbytery was asked to study the issue of intinction within its bounds. The Presbytery appointed a committee to study the issue and report back.

The study committee presented its report to Heartland Presbytery in November 2012, which contained a majority and minority positions. The majority report took the position against intinction, and the minority report argued in favor of allowing intinction to be practiced. At its March 2013 stated meeting, Heartland debated the issue as presented in the majority and minority reports. The Presbytery voted to defer action until November 2013.

At its November 2, 2013 stated meeting, the Presbytery voted almost unanimously to prohibit the practice of intinction within the churches in the bounds of Heartland Presbytery.

Heartland Presbytery has a standing rule prohibiting the publication of its minutes, thus the actual wording of the final resolution is not available at this time.