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***Anglicans/Episcopalians only*** Confirmation vs Reception

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RileyG

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First of all, I have a deep love for The Book of Common Prayer and have no desire to convert. I use it to supplement my prayer life.

If someone has already been confirmed by a bishop in another denomination (Catholic, Lutheran, Orthodox etc) it's my understanding Anglicans/Episcopalians won't confirm them again, but receive them into the Church via reception.

Does this apply to ALL denominations that have a rite or sacrament of confirmation? Such as UCC, Methodists, Presbyterians, Reformed etc

Peace
 
Philip_B

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RileyG said:
First of all, I have a deep love for The Book of Common Prayer and have no desire to convert. I use it to supplement my prayer life.

If someone has already been confirmed by a bishop in another denomination (Catholic, Lutheran, Orthodox etc) it's my understanding Anglicans/Episcopalians won't confirm them again, but receive them into the Church via reception.

Does this apply to ALL denominations that have a rite or sacrament of confirmation? Such as UCC, Methodists, Presbyterians, Reformed etc

Peace
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That is the general idea. There is a sense of it being a tradition which can reasonably demonstrate the Historic Episcopate.
 
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RileyG

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seeking.IAM said:
It does not apply to all denominations. I came over from the UMC and needed to be confirmed, not received.
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Thanks for the info!
Philip_B said:
That is the general idea. There is a sense of it being a tradition which can reasonably demonstrate the Historic Episcopate.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response!
 
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PloverWing

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I think varies by bishop. Here's what I'm finding at the national church's website:

Baptized persons who have been members of another Christian fellowship and who wish to be affiliated with the Episcopal Church may make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their baptism in the presence of a bishop. The bishop lays hands on each candidate for reception and says, “We recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship of this Communion” (BCP, p. 418). Candidates for reception normally have made a mature commitment in another Christian fellowship. Some dioceses have reserved reception for those candidates who have previously received sacramental confirmation with laying on of hands by a bishop in apostolic succession.
Click to expand...

Source: Reception (Christian Commitment)
 
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RileyG

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Shane R

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Key words: Apostolic Succession

So I was confirmed in the LCMS in 2011. They don't have an episcopate. When I pursued ordination some years later the bishop told me that was not going to be adequate and he gave me the rite of episcopal confirmation. But a lot of the ACNA is quite loosey-goosey with the rules and it really depends on the diocese and parish what the decision will be. The Episcopal Church tends to be quite timid about even asking those questions.
 
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Philip_B said:
That is the general idea. There is a sense of it being a tradition which can reasonably demonstrate the Historic Episcopate.
Click to expand...
Yep. This used to be the practice in TEC. If you had been confirmed by a bishop we believed to have a claim to apostolic succession, you were received. Otherwise, you'd be confirmed. Given our strange and mushy theology of confirmation, we tend to now see Confirmation more about being a mature profession of faith and less about who was present. It's tricky for a number of other reasons as well. What do you do with adults who went through the Roman Catholic RCIA process and were both baptized and confirmed by their parish priest on the bishop's behalf, for example? In the end, it's a moot point. Canon I.17 says that any baptized person who is confirmed or received by a TEC bishop is considered confirmed. We've kinda settled on the position that there isn't much difference between the two rites and it's probably appropriate to defer to pastoral sensitivity regarding which one to use. Some people might want to recognize their previous mature profession and some might not.
 
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RileyG

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Shane R said:
Key words: Apostolic Succession

So I was confirmed in the LCMS in 2011. They don't have an episcopate. When I pursued ordination some years later the bishop told me that was not going to be adequate and he gave me the rite of episcopal confirmation. But a lot of the ACNA is quite loosey-goosey with the rules and it really depends on the diocese and parish what the decision will be. The Episcopal Church tends to be quite timid about even asking those questions.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info!
 
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Paidiske

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In my experience in Australia, although the intention might be that confirmation apply to those who have not been confirmed by a (valid) bishop elsewhere, in practice, reception tends to be used for anyone who's made an adult profession of faith in another tradition. The concern seems to be to recognise and respect the path that brought the person to this point in their faith, rather than invalidate or undermine it.
 
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RileyG

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Paidiske said:
In my experience in Australia, although the intention might be that confirmation apply to those who have not been confirmed by a (valid) bishop elsewhere, in practice, reception tends to be used for anyone who's made an adult profession of faith in another tradition. The concern seems to be to recognise and respect the path that brought the person to this point in their faith, rather than invalidate or undermine it.
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Thanks Rev!
 
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