Confirmation

The Book of Common Prayer says of confirmation that, “In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop. Those baptized as adults are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith” (BCP 412).

So the rite of confirmation is indelibly tied to baptism – not the completion of it but an affirmation of the vows made either on behalf of an infant or by an adult. While confirmation doesn’t make a person any more of a Christian, it is a rite of Christian commitment; an important part of living out one’s life in Christ.

St. Stephen’s offers confirmation preparation for adults and teenagers who desire to make a public commitment to Jesus Christ in front of the bishop. Any adult interested in confirmation should make this desire known to the rector. As needed we offer an adult confirmation classes. The course includes basic instruction on Anglican church history, the Book of Common Prayer, the sacraments, Scripture, church doctrine, spirituality, and church polity.

Bishop Rowe prefers that those presented for confirmation be a minimum of 15 years old – or turning 15 during the current academic year. As such, teenage confirmation classes are offered for teens 15 years of age or who will be 15 on the date of confirmation. Classes meet regularly and are taught by the Priest and other Adult members of St. Stephen’s Church. Confirmation takes place during the Bishop’s pastoral visit to St. Stephen’s Church.

It is important to note that participation in this process does not obligate the student to be confirmed. A student may withdraw at any point, or even decide not to be confirmed at the end of a successfully completed program. Part of the process of becoming a mature Christian is being ready to make a commitment to Christ on one’s own.

There are certain expectations for teenagers engaged in the confirmation class. First, since participation is voluntary, a positive outlook and a willingness to engage the faith is the most important expectation. Each student is expected to attend every class. While there may be circumstances where this is not possible, full attendance is the norm.

The role of the parents is vital to this process. First, each parent must support their child in this process while allowing them the freedom to delay or withdraw if they desire. Parental worship life and discussions about faith will also have an indelible effect on the inquiring process of their children. Help them to keep this process a priority in the busy schedule that is part of a student’s school life.

Teenagers or adults who choose not to be confirmed are still considered full participants of this community of faith. While the Episcopal Church assumes that adults will seek confirmation at some point along their faith journey, confirmation is not a requirement for participation in church activities or programs.

Thoughts on Confirmation for Older Teens

In light of the Bishop’s preference that teens be a minimum of 15 years of age for confirmation, and my own experience with confirmation classes over the years, having a minimum confirmation age seems like a natural progression., it is, after all, a “mature public affirmation of faith” as the Prayer Book notes. I would ultimately like to see this rite driven solely by those who desire to make a public commitment to Jesus Christ (something that transcends age).

There is some confusion surrounding confirmation. This is partly due to the fact that the Episcopal Church’s understanding and theology of confirmation has shifted in the past generation. For some who grew up in the Episcopal Church, confirmation was, at one time, required before the reception of communion. This changed with the Prayer Book revision of the 1970’s, which put greater emphasis on the sacrament of baptism (getting back to the ancient roots of the early church). This also means that confirmation does not “complete” baptism or make anyone any more of a Christian. Baptism is the full initiation rite of the Christian church – baptized members of the church, regardless of age, are full members of the Christian community. Confirmation is a way of “confirming” the baptismal vows made on behalf of those baptized as infants or the vows made by those who could speak for themselves. Still, for some, change from what they experienced as children regarding confirmation can be disconcerting.

But I also want to be clear that confirmation is not a “puberty rite;” it is a rite of commitment, not a rite of passage. One that must be driven by the individual Christian rather than parental pressure.

Through my own experience with older teens, I know I can get into deeper spiritual and theological conversations with 15 to 16 year olds than with 13 or 14 year olds. This doesn’t mean all 15 or 16 year olds are ready to make a mature public affirmation of the faith; nor does it mean that all 13 or 14 year olds are uniformly unable to make such an affirmation. But having some guidelines takes the guessing out of the equation and provides some clarity.

At the heart of any confirmation class are the relationships. Relationship with God, relationship with adult mentors (both clergy and lay), and peer relationships. This, of course, transcends the rite of confirmation and these relationships are all life-long ones. Effective confirmation preparation for teenagers requires full commitment from the candidates’ families. This includes regular church attendance, participation in the life of the faith community, and the modeling of Christian faith and practice. Anything less works against the desired outcome of helping our young people live out committed lives of faith.