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Patient Perspectives on Gluten Grain Reactivities,

Intolerances, Sensitivities,  Celiac Disease,

and Gluten Challenges for Diagnostic Purposes

(formerly www.GlutenSensitivity.net)

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The Gluten Free Community

at

Church, Work, School, College,

at Play and when Travelling

Gluten free and similar diets present slightly different challenges in each area of our social lives.  These challenges are workable.  With knowledge and advance preparation, gluten free individuals can cope without major disruptions in their lifestyle. 

Church

Communion issues focus on use of a wheat based communion loaf or wafer, and, in the case of a common communion cup, the wine cannot be considered gluten free. 

There are several solutions for these situations.

1. Protestants  - Gluten free communion wafers are available from EnerG Foods, and many local health stores.

Most churches use serve wine in separate containers preventing cross contamination.  Some practice intinction, in which a communion wafer is dipped in a common goblet of wine or grape juice.  These churches may offer a separate container to dip gluten free wafers.

For churches that pass a common loaf and cup the following accommodations have been used:

• If the church is agreeable, a gluten free loaf (see below) may be substituted.

• If a gluten free loaf is not available, the individual may choose to  pause momentarily over the loaf as it is passed, touch or nearly touch it, or hold a crumb of gluten free bread or in the hand, motion toward the loaf and consume the gluten free crumb instead.

• Communion wine taken from a common cup when wheat bread is used cannot be considered gluten free.  Sensitive individuals may either pause momentarily over the cup and "inhale" the aroma as it is passed, or be the first person to partake of the wine, or keep a small cup with a little wine with them to substitute. 

2.  Catholics may purchase low gluten communion wafers from www.catholicceliacs.org.  At this time the Catholic Church does not recognize gluten free wafers as appropriate for communion.  This raises concerns for particularly sensitive individuals. 

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Social communion issues - Most of the time individuals can accommodate themselves in some manner.  However, this may not work well for sensitive teens or patients too ill to use good judgment.  In that case an understanding church will recognize the issues and QUIETLY make the change without singling out or embarrassing the ill person.  When such a change is needed, each situation can vary, but it is hoped that when church elders are approached in a non threatening or non insistant manner with this special need, they will be gracious.  A gluten intolerance fact sheet may be helpful.  When an elder is asked for his own suggestions he may be more cooperative and creative.  In some cases it may work best simply to discuss the matter privately with the deacon(s) in charge of laying the communion table and quietly change the loaf  or provide Gf communion wafers without general discussion.  When others do not understand, forgive them and be as firm as necessary to avoid gluten for those who are your responsibility.  Be patient but vigilant.

One group of elders requested that the ill person avoid the communion loaf for a period of time to judge whether it made a health difference to do so.  The ill person cooperated and later the church honored the change.

Unfortunately some church leaders do not yet understand the deep emotional issues behind non accommodation of these special needs and they lose whole families from their churches as a result.  Many families/individuals admit to avoiding communion service because they feel so badly about not partaking, or they switch churches. 

For church leaders who do not understand, sharing the following true story may help.

In one emergency instance a mother burst into tears during the weekly communion service when a church elder refused to cooperate with an emergency loaf change.  Her family member currently experienced gluten induced psychiatric/depression issues and could not think clearly to avoid communion bread.  Seeing the distress of the mother when a gluten loaf was served, with her gluten free loaf sitting in the church kitchen, out of love for mom, the ill family member avoided communion loaf that morning.  By the next week other church members investigated the matter sufficiently to understand the unusual needs.  The loaf was changed with full cooperation from everyone, and the family member recovered as a direct result, by the ill member's own admission.  The ill member had been misled by false negative tests and although all other gluten had been removed from the diet due to pain and other severe issues, the neurologically affected person refused to avoid communion bread "because the tests were negative".  Psychiatric symptoms and severe, horrible depression for months lasted until a gluten free loaf was provided at communion.

Recipes for communion loaf 

Feel free to contribute a recipe or inform us of a brand of unsliced gluten free bread or a mix that is easy to make and works well for your church. 

Send recipes to info@glutenreactivity.net or info@glutensensitivity.net

General notes about unsliced gluten free bread for communion.

Most unsliced gluten free bread is best baked fresh the day before.  Freezing is for emergencies only, at least for the Kinnikinnick recipe below, as the quality suffers.  An emergency loaf does needs to be available in the freezer, either wheat or gluten free for the odd occasion when plans go awry. (If a wheat loaf is used, GF partakers must be iinformed and avoid of course.) In a last minute pinch groceries in the midwest carry unsliced wheat based King's Hawaiian bread and it works fine, or a large dinner roll or even pita bread if the group is small and inclined to patience and flexibility.  Most importantly make an emergency plan that can be depended upon if a gf loaf fails or the person supplying the loaf forgets or is out of commission. 

In one church the first time a gluten free loaf was used the loaf was frozen ahead of time and when it was broken during the service it crumbled to dust.  It pays to experiment ahead of time but when these issues arise, sometimes quickly without much opportunity to shop, experiment or compare, they are overcome with patience and grace. 

An appreciative, thankful spirit on the part of the intolerant member(s) is appreciated by others and can smooth the path for peace and accommodation.

Kinnikinnick mix

This recipe is easy to make, and works well for easy breaking and partaking.  It has the texture of a batter bread although this  version uses yeast.  (The mix directions do not include added yeast.)  This bread can be later sliced and grilled with garlic butter or honey butter, or for dairy free use coconut oil and garlic or honey.

3 cups Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Kinni-Kwik Bread and Bun Mix.  www.Kinnikinnick.com

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 t. honey or agave nectar, sucanat or other natural sweetener to feed yeast

1 1/2 cup milk, almond milk, rice milk or water

1 packet Rize yeast (organic non GMO, www.tropicaltraditions.com (Mix directions leave yeast out)

Oil one regular size bread pan with olive oil. Oven temperature is about 350 degrees.  Experiment with preheating the oven or turning it on when the unrisen loaf is placed in the oven.

Warm milk or water to between 105-115 degrees, add 1/2 t honey and yeast packet.  Use hand wisk or fork to yeast into the milk and allow to "proof" or "sit" for a couple of minutes. (yeast will activate and bubble).  Note:  It is worth it to purchase a yeast thermometer.

Combine bread mix and olive oil in mixing bowl.  Add warm proofed milk/yeast liquid and beat in mixer for 2-3 minutes.  The consistency is very important so measure carefully and pay attention.  You will learn when the batter is too stiff or a little too moist.

Pour batter into bread pan and cover the top surface with a thin film of olive oil.  Bake 350 degrees for about 45-50 minutes.  This can vary depending on the oven. 

I bake this loaf in a roaster with a little water in the bottom to provide steam for rising and a soft crust.  I turn on the roaster when I place the loaf in it and let the preheat cycle do the rise.  This type of strategy needs to be practiced with each individual oven for best results.

Occasionally, not always, Kinnikinnick Kinni-Kwik Bread and Bun Mix is available by the case of 6 for a good price on Amazon.com.  Orders over $25 get free shipping.  A full bag contains 5 1/2 cups.

Ingredients:  Ingredients - White Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Pea Starch, Tapioca Starch, Sugar, Whole Egg Powder, Malto Dextrin, Poly Dextrose, Dextrose, Pea Protein, Glucono Delta Lactone, Egg White Powder, Fructooligosaccharide, Pea Fibre, Sodium Carboxy Methylcellulose, Cellulose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Rice Bran Extract, Inulin, Salt, Sodium Stearayl Lactylate, Fructose

Will post more recipes as they are contributed.

Disclaimer                         Text Ó2006 - Gluten Sensitivity