South Carolina churches to offer gluten-free Communion bread

At St. Stephen’s, the gluten-free and gluten wafers are kept on different plates to avoid mix-up.

Shoemaker considers the small change to be a way to serve all people.

“It compels us to consider every individual. Some may hear the numbers and say ’Gosh, it’s a small amount of people, why bother doing it,” Shoemaker said, referring to the five members of the 170-member congregation who require gluten-free bread. “I think it’s worth the small effort.”