1. I'm not all clear how this is a violation of 1 Cor. 4:1.
Overseers are called by God (Acts 20:28) and, therefore, are not laymen. These ministers of Christ are the stewards of the mysteries. A true mystery of God is the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion.
Quote
2. I'm also not clear what the layperson did wrong in the quote you provided? Could you please explain this more for me.
Please allow me to relate my understanding of Reform thinking on Holy Supper subject to correction. The Zwinglian view is "This represents my Body." The Calvinist view is "This is my Body but only in a spiritual sense."
Opposed to these views is the Lutheran view: "This is my Body both spiritually and physically." Lutherans say the human and divine natures of Christ are inseparable and are in sacramental union with the bread and the wine.
Quote
I will clarify where I am coming from on this issue. At my church it seems like "anything goes" sometimes and this includes communion. We even have one of our high school girls come up (on quite a regular basis) to lead communion for the congreation on Sunday mornings. From listening to her I don't think she has the maturity level to do this (not to mention should a woman be doing this up front on Sunday - that's another problem).
Neither a novice nor a woman is qualified to be steward of the mysteries. 1 Tim. 3. However, if your congregation teaches that Communion is only a symbol, I don't believe you receive the body and blood of Christ. Therefore, there is no mystery of God and no violation of 1 Cor. 4:1.
