Holy Communion in Contagious Times

"""No one will finish reading this book without a deeply enhanced sense of the meaning of the eucharist. Painstaking and impressively well-documented and researched, it will be an invaluable resource, stimulating much debate and reflection."" --Rowan Williams, former archbishop of Canterbury ""In this carefully researched and original book of quite extraordinary scope, the author brings to light the deepest meaning of the relation of God to a world that includes cyberspace."" --Paul S. Fiddes, University of Oxford, Baptist theologian ""Renowned biblical theologian Richard Burridge's arguments give us much to think about in this ongoing important debate."" --Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church ""A visionary eucharistic theology and ecclesiology for the future's hybrid physical and virtual expressions of church."" --Mitzi J. Budde, Virginia Theological Seminary, deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church ""A provocative, interesting, rich, and thoughtful book. It is well worth the read and furthers the discussion considerably."" --C. Andrew Doyle, Episcopal bishop of Texas ""Reading Burridge's material about online eucharists moved my theological goalposts!"" --Pierre Whalon, former bishop of the convocation of Episcopal Churches of Europe ""A fascinating study. Something all church leaders need to wrestle with!"" --Michael F. Bird, Ridley College, Melbourne ""Richard Burridge's theological depth and willingness to be radical in his thinking make this book essential reading."" --David Walker, bishop of Manchester ""Never content to do theology in an ivory tower, renowned biblical theologian Richard Burridge has forged ahead in a personal quest for possible ways to celebrate holy communion during the COVID-19 pandemic and similar health crises. Whether you or I agree with his conclusions or not, his arguments give us much to think about in this ongoing important debate for all who follow Jesus of Nazareth and his way of love in difficult times. I still use his 2008 commentary on John's Gospel and have little doubt that this new work likewise will be one that I reread many times in the years ahead."" --Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church and author of Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times ""Richard Burridge brings his prodigious energy, theological and pastoral passion, and diverse network of colleagues to engage the vitally important issue of ongoing Christian liturgical tradition in the internet age. I'm grateful to Professor Burridge for putting this book into the world at this challenging moment."" --Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, dean and president, Seminary of the Southwest ""Richard Burridge asks questions that the church needs to face. His theological depth and willingness to be radical in his thinking make this book essential reading for anyone wishing to explore the rapidly developing and expanding world of virtual church life with an even partially open mind."" --David Walker, bishop of Manchester ""The global pandemic raised many questions for the church about how holy communion might be celebrated when we are unable to meet in person. With characteristic expertise, Richard Burridge guides us through these debates with close attention, both to the tradition of Christian teaching on the eucharist and developments in modern communication technology. He offers some provocative yet deeply considered proposals that de"