For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
JD Abshire
Several have given wonderful and biblically sound reasons as to why laity should be allowed to lead a communion service.
One simple but important element of the communion service grossly in error is the bread provided and used by the "administration". I've seen everything from saltine cracker crumbs to light bread.
Biblically, leaven has always represented evil, contamination, corruption.
Abraham baked the Lord unleavened bread. (Genesis 19:3).
The Israelites were required to prepare unleavened bread in preparation of the first passover (Exodus 12:8) and thereafter forever in observance of this feast (Exodus 12:15-17)
Some might consider this legalistic but I'm not suggesting Gentiles observe the feast of unleavened bread. I am simply calling to attention what the bread represents. It represents the pure, holy, unadulterated, sinless body of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is THE lamb without spot or blemish that was broken for us!
Honestly? Should we use bread containing leaven during sacred communion? I believe it is a slap in the face to our Lord and a shameful misrepresentation. "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" (For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" (Hebrews 7:26)
Todd Fillmore
There are many thoughtful answers to this question, but it brings to light one of my pet peeves with the church. Paul called it the "Lord's Supper" in 1 Cor 11, and draws our attention back to the Passover meal which Christ shared with His disciples (Mt 26:19-30, Mk 14:14-26, Lk 22:15- 27).
It is important to note that the "Lord's Supper" is itself both a rearward look to the Passover and Exodus of our Israelite brethren, as well as a prophetic view to Christ's own imminent sacrifice, and the future, unfulfilled final Passover to which we all look with hope and longing. I would argue that there is no greater, more powerful set of symbolisms in scripture than those found in the Passover/Lord's Supper, as it binds together the entire narrative of Passover/blood atonement > exodus from sin and the world > promised land - from Genesis to Revelations. It pains me to see well intentioned Christians degrade this powerful testimony to the Blood of Christ to a simple "communion."
I want to further emphasize that the Lord's Supper was originally a Passover meal. It was a full meal, and, although solemn, bore little resemblance to "communion" as most practice it today - a man-made term foreign to scripture, and even further removed from the original patterns set forth by our Lord and Savior, and discussed by Paul.
To put a finer point on it, the supper enjoyed by the Lord and his disciples was essentially a family meal, which Christ used to draw attention to His own sacrificial role as the true Passover lamb. It was not a thimble of grape juice and a wafer served by "clergy" to passive guests sitting in pews.
To my mind, the "communion" tradition is a poster child for one of the most serious problems in the church today. - traditions. Rather than an animated, energetic and loving family as seen in the New Testament church, most mainstream church services that I have attended are passive, structured, dry and and stifling. It is ironic that Christ essentially closes His Passover discourse with the warning that "the kings of the Gentiles lord it over them...but it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant." And yet, in most churches we see exactly the top-down leadership structure which Christ condemned in Luke and in Matthew.
Most churches, it seems, are more concerned with maintaining tradition than keeping to the simple teachings and examples of Christ. It is for these principle reasons that I and my family sought out small home churches which we found infinitely warmer, more like family, less passive and far more conducive to deep study and reflection. May you readers discover the same blessing.