Confirmation
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is a sacred act that follows the precedent of the apostles in the Book of Acts (Acts 8:14-17; 19:6; also 2 Timothy 1:6-7) and is a practice of all historical, liturgical churches which consider themselves in apostolic succession. In our context, confirmation is an occasion when Bishop Keith Andrews visits our church and confirms the work of God among us. Beyond that, he places his hands on those who desire to become part of this historic, global Anglican church and prays for a special unction of the Holy Spirit upon their lives.
For adults, Confirmation is a time of entering more deeply into commitment to the life and mission of the local and global church. For our baptized children, Confirmation is a time when they are invited to take ownership of their own lives of faith. Thus, we also encourage confirmation for baptized teenagers 12 years and older who seek to grow in their faith and take ownership for their discipleship to Jesus.
Membership vs. Confirmation
Church membership and Confirmation are separate but complementary. A person may be confirmed without being a member. A person may also be a member without being confirmed. In order to serve in lay leadership—whether staff, vestry or, ministry director—a person must be both a member and confirmed.
Requirements for Confirmation
In order to be confirmed a person must be baptized, actively following Jesus, and regularly attending Living Faith. It is also required that candidates for Confirmation go through a Confirmation Class.
Fr. Peter or another clergy member will lead a Confirmation Class each year leading up to the bishop’s visit. The class typically lasts for 4-6 weeks, and includes teaching on Christian doctrine, church history, and Anglican spirituality and liturgics.
Reception & Reaffirmation
If a person has already been confirmed in some other Christian tradition or Anglican province, that person does not need to be confirmed again. Instead, that person can be “Received” by the bishop into the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). A person who has already been confirmed or received in the ACNA but who is new to Living Faith can “Reaffirm” their baptismal vows before the bishop.
Confirmation Class 2024
”Simply Anglican”
Simply Anglican: 1 Book in 4 Sessions
February 21 - ch. 1 “Story” & ch. 2 “Orthodoxy” (30 pages)
February 28 - ch. 3 “Prayer” & ch. 4 “Liturgy” (28 pages)
March 6 - ch. 5 “Sacraments”, ch. 6 “Scripture”, & ch. 7 “Order” (38 pages)
March 13 - ch. 8 “Mission” & ch. 9 “Charity” (34 pages)
Details
Location: Living Faith
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM
Expectations:
purchase and commit to reading Simply Anglican by Fr. Winfield Bevins ($10) (approx. 130 pages total)
purchase (or download PDF) and commit to reading To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism before the Sunday of Confirmation or earlier
attend all 4 sessions (or have approval for an absence from Fr. Peter).
at the end of the class, sign a statement that you’ve fulfilled these expectations