Didn't go through with confirmation

[glamourdollxoxo]

Are there any other Lutherans who didn't go through with confirmation or communion? I was baptised as a Lutheran, but I never went through with confirmation or anything.

 

[DaRev]

Why not?

 

[RadMan]

Are there any other Lutherans who didn't go through with confirmation or communion? I was baptised as a Lutheran, but I never went through with confirmation or anything.

Interesting that you should say that since you have a Lutheran icon. Are you a member of a Lutheran church? If you are, how did you manage to become a member without confirmation?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

You can be a member of a Lutheran church without being confirmed (at least in our church you can). You just aren't allowed at the communion table and for the male non-confirmed member, you don't have voting or office-holding privileges.

 

[DaRev]

You can be a member of a Lutheran church without being confirmed (at least in our church you can). You just aren't allowed at the communion table and for the male non-confirmed member, you don't have voting or office-holding privileges.

One would be considered a "baptized member." My question is why would someone not want to confirm their faith in the Church.

 

[RadMan]

You can be a member of a Lutheran church without being confirmed (at least in our church you can). You just aren't allowed at the communion table and for the male non-confirmed member, you don't have voting or office-holding privileges.

So then what constitutes being a member? Just going to church and contributing money? Not sure I understand.

 

[DaRev]

So then what constitutes being a member? Just going to church and contributing money? Not sure I understand.

Baptism is the normal entry into the Church.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

One would be considered a "baptized member." My question is why would someone not want to confirm their faith in the Church.

Precisely. I never really had a choice - my parents made me go to confirmation classes...not that I didn't want to, but even if I hadn't wanted to, I would've had to go. Luckily for me, and my parents, I was very eager to be confirmed.

It will be interesting to hear any reasons as to why not get confirmed. I imagine one would be not wanting to attend classes, whether as a teen or an adult.

 

[RadMan]

Baptism is the normal entry into the Church.

OK---I thought that the confirmation of faith and upholding the church's belief through communion was part of membership. I must have missed what you mentioned in the church constitution.

 

[DaRev]

OK---I thought that the confirmation of faith and upholding the church's belief through communion was part of membership. I must have missed what you mentioned in the church constitution.

That's communicant membership.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

OK---I thought that the confirmation of faith and upholding the church's belief through communion was part of membership. I must have missed what you mentioned in the church constitution.

As far as we're concerned, we have two kinds of members, confirmed (also known as communicant) members and baptized members.

The confirmed members get to take communion, vote and/or hold offices within the church hierarchy (if they are male). Baptized (but not confirmed) members are counted on the roster but are not allowed at the table (as they lack the public profession of faith and unity that is confirmation) nor are they allowed to hold positions or vote (if they are male).

For example, we list 81 members. Of those 81 members, 70 are communicant members. Four of the non-communicant members are children. We have families where both spouses were baptized, but only one is confirmed. We have a family right now who is all baptized but only the son is confirmed and the parents are taking the confirmation classes.

Hope that helps explain things a bit.

 

[RadMan]

As far as we're concerned, we have two kinds of members, confirmed (also known as communicant) members and baptized members.

The confirmed members get to take communion, vote and/or hold offices within the church hierarchy (if they are male). Baptized (but not confirmed) members are counted on the roster but are not allowed at the table (as they lack the public profession of faith and unity that is confirmation) nor are they allowed to hold positions or vote (if they are male).

For example, we list 81 members. Of those 81 members, 70 are communicant members. Four of the non-communicant members are children. We have families where both spouses were baptized, but only one is confirmed. We have a family right now who is all baptized but only the son is confirmed and the parents are taking the confirmation classes.

Hope that helps explain things a bit.

OK thanks----Other than being saved what rights do a baptized member have other than just attending church? If they are saved then why can't they be communed with the same confession of faith at the altar. So if I was baptized and confessed the same faith at the altar I should be able to take communion without being confirmed.

 

[DaRev]

OK thanks----Other than being saved what rights do a baptized member have other than just attending church? If they are saved then why can't they be communed with the same confession of faith at the altar. So if I was baptized and confessed the same faith at the altar I should be able to take communion without being confirmed.

Communion requires a confession of faith from the recipient. Those who are baptized have that confession made in their stead. Once they are instructed in the faith and are able to confirm their baptismal faith made in their stead, they are then able to receive the Sacrament according to Christ's command.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

OK thanks----Other than being saved what rights do a baptized member have other than just attending church? If they are saved then why can't they be communed with the same confession of faith at the altar. So if I was baptized and confessed the same faith at the altar I should be able to take communion without being confirmed.

Certainly one could wonder why someone would get baptized but not confirmed into a church. I don't run into that much. As I said, we have a family where the parents and the son got baptized the same day the son got confirmed and the parents are now attending a membership class.

Another thing to bear in mind is that a baptized member doesn't necessarily have to be baptized IN THAT CHURCH. We have a couple of members who were baptized as Catholics. They are still members of our church, but have not made the declaration of faith needed to commune with us.

 

[DaRev]

Certainly one could wonder why someone would get baptized but not confirmed into a church. I don't run into that much. As I said, we have a family where the parents and the son got baptized the same day the son got confirmed and the parents are now attending a membership class.

This must be a difference between the WELS and the LCMS. In the LCMS adults and older children are instructed prior to baptism so that their baptism and confirmation are at the same time. They then become communicant members at their baptism and can receive the Sacrament.

 

[LilLamb219]

Are there any other Lutherans who didn't go through with confirmation or communion? I was baptised as a Lutheran, but I never went through with confirmation or anything.

I went through it...but I was scared to because I heard there were tests involved and the pastor could refuse to confirm you....but I am glad I went through it because the tests were super easy and the pastor was wonderful.

Since you are an adult now, have you considered going to an Adult Inquirers class at a local Lutheran church and getting confirmed that way? It's a lot easier and you learn TONS!!

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

So then what constitutes being a member? Just going to church and contributing money? Not sure I understand.

In my Church we have three types of membership:

1. Baptized
2. Communicant
3. Voting (must be communicant over the age of 18 and have read the constitution, and signed it)

In our directory we also have a listing called friends of the Congregation. These are regular attenders who either have not decided yet to join, or those going through instruction to join. They are not "officially" members, but this does get them on the phone list, they get a mail box, and it makes them feel part of the community (which they are).

Mark

 

[PreachersWife2004]

We have "friends of Mt Olive", too. We have several people who attend church on a fairly regular basis but for whatever reason aren't interested in becoming official members. They get our newsletter and any special mailings we send out, and they are listed on the church directory as "friends of Mt Olive".

In my Church we have three types of membership:

1. Baptized
2. Communicant
3. Voting (must be communicant over the age of 18 and have read the constitution, and signed it)

In our directory we also have a listing called friends of the Congregation. These are regular attenders who either have not decided yet to join, or those going through instruction to join. They are not "officially" members, but this does get them on the phone list, they get a mail box, and it makes them feel part of the community (which they are).

Mark

 

[PreachersWife2004]

This must be a difference between the WELS and the LCMS. In the LCMS adults and older children are instructed prior to baptism so that their baptism and confirmation are at the same time. They then become communicant members at their baptism and can receive the Sacrament.

I don't know if that's the absolute rule or not...I think Matt gives people the option, but if someone wants to be baptized and confesses Christ Matt won't make them wait until they're done taking the confirmation class.

I've seen it done both ways in a couple of different churches. I guess it's more the person's preference than anything.

 

[DaRev]

I don't know if that's the absolute rule or not...I think Matt gives people the option, but if someone wants to be baptized and confesses Christ Matt won't make them wait until they're done taking the confirmation class.

I've seen it done both ways in a couple of different churches. I guess it's more the person's preference than anything.

The way we teach it is that Baptism and teaching go hand in hand. If an individual is able to be instructed prior to Baptism, they must be. Children are instructed up to the point they can comprehend depending on age. Adults go through regular adult instruction prior to Baptism. It goes in line with the Biblical premise of "confess and be Baptized." Those who are not able to make that confession on their own (infants) are Baptized prior to instruction, with the confession being made in their stead by those who have the authority to speak for them. Those who are able to make their confession on their own are instructed prior to baptism.