Non-RCC Confirmation??

[bigsierra]

What spiritually takes place in a non Catholic confirmation? What Protestant groups have a confirmation process?

Thanks for any input

 

[Breetai]

Lutherans have a confirmation process. We have two years of weekly confirmation classes when we're around 12-13 (although adult classes are available as well). The confirmation is a public re-affirmation of our baptisms.

This is from LCMS.org and Lutheran Worship:


-Confirmation is a custom of the church and not a sacrament. It links the catechumens to their Baptism, celebrates the reception of the Lord's Word among them and, in cases where the candidates have not yet communed, welcomes them to the Lord's Table. Luther strongly urges in both catechisms that those who are unwilling to learn, at the very least, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer should not be admitted to the Sacrament. Baptized Christians are admitted to the Sacrament when they have been examined and absolved by their pastor in accordance with the practice outlined in the Augsburg Confession (Article XXV).

-Confirmation declares of a catechumen that he/she is a Christian who has been baptized, confesses the faith, and is in communion with Christ and His Church. The reception of catechumens to the Lord's Table assumes that ongoing catechesis is the way of life for the faithful Christian. This rite emphasizes God's work in Baptism, the gift of faith, and the promises of the Lord's Supper for all who believe in Christ and the words of His testament.

-Guidance for pastoral examination of candidates is provided in the Agenda: Pastoral Care.

-The Rite of Confirmation takes place in the Divine Service before the Prayer of the Church, or in the baptismal liturgy of the Vigil of Easter. Catechumens gather near the font, before the chancel steps, or before the altar as local custom dictates.


The Confirmation in the service:

The presiding minister addresses the catechumens.

P Beloved in the Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ said to His apostles: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” You have been baptized and catechized in the Christian faith according to our Lord's bidding. Jesus said, “whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Lift up your hearts, therefore, to the God of all grace and joyfully give answer to what I now ask you in the name of the Lord.


Pastor- Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge the gifts that God gave you in your baptism?

Response- Yes, I do.


P Do you renounce the devil?

R Yes, I renounce the devil.

P Do you renounce all his works?

R Yes, I renounce all his works.

P Do you renounce all his ways?

R Yes, I renounce all his ways.


P Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?

R Yes, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.


P Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord?

R Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.


P Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

R Yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.


P Do you hold all the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God?

R I do.


P Do you confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, drawn from the Scriptures, as you have learned to know it from the Small Catechism, to be faithful and true?

R I do.


P Do you intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord's Supper faithfully?

R I do, by the grace of God.


P Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?

R I do, by the grace of God.


P Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?

P I do, by the grace of God.


P We rejoice with thankful hearts that you have been baptized and have received the teaching of the Lord. You have confessed the faith and been absolved of your sins. As you continue to hear the Lord's Word and receive His blessed Sacrament, He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

C Amen.

The catechumens kneel to receive the confirmation blessing and passage of Holy Scripture. The pastor places his hands on the head of the catechumen and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead while saying:

P Name , the almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of water and the Holy Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life + everlasting.

C Amen.

The pastor may give a confirmation certificate and read a text of Holy Scripture as a remembrance of confirmation. After all the catechumens have received the blessing, all stand for one or both of the following collects.

P Let us pray.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for Your great goodness in bringing these Your Sons and daughters to the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and enabling them both with the heart to believe and with the mouth to confess His saving name. Grant that, bringing forth the fruits of faith, they may continue steadfast and victorious to the day when all who have fought the good fight of faith shall receive the crown of righteousness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

P Almighty and most merciful Father, in the waters of Holy Baptism You have united Your children in the suffering and death of Your Son Jesus Christ, cleansing them by His blood. Renew in them the gift of Your Holy Spirit that they may live in daily contrition and repentance with a faith which ever clings to their Savior. Deliver them from the power of Satan and preserve them from false and dangerous doctrines, that they may remain faithful in hearing Christ's Word and receiving His body and blood. By the Lord's Supper strengthen them to believe that no one can make satisfaction for sin but Christ alone. Enable them to find joy and comfort only in Him, learning from this Sacrament to love You and their neighbor and to bear their cross with patience and joy until the day of the resurrection of their bodies to life immortal, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

P Peace + be with you.

C Amen.

 

[bigsierra]

Thanks for the great in-depth response! That would make for a beautiful service.

Are there any other denominations that practice this? Is it for the same reasons?

 

[Serapha]

Hi there!







Most denominations that have a faith in baptismal regeneration have a confirmation... Church of Christ for example, also anglican.


~serapha~

 

[ChrisB]

I was "Christened" into the Anglican Church as a baby but when, as an adult, I became a Christian I was encouraged to be baptised in the Evangelical Church I attend. I know such "re-baptism" is frowned on in some circles though. BTW my Church will occasionally baptise infants if the parents really want it but generally it's "adults only"

 

[Phoebe]

As far as I know, It's Lutherans, Methodists, and Episcopalians. I don't know about the Orthodox. (feel free to correct me)

1 Corinthians 1:6

 

[Breetai]

If you want to know more about Lutheran doctrine, and why the need to be Confirmed before recieving Communion, then here's a link: http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/admisup.pdf
It's a pdf file, so make sure that you can view it on your computer. Most will be able to.

 

[LuxPerpetua]

Well, I know that Baptists do not because in the Baptist church you are not allowed baptism until you are old enough to make a commitment of faith--usually elementary to teenage years for those who have been raised as Christians.

I've also attended churches that did infant baptism (United Church of Christ and Episcopal). In these churches since you are baptized as an infant you are to confirm your faith at a later age--hence, confirmation.

 

[ChoirDir]

I don't know about the Orthodox. (feel free to correct me)

Orthodoxy has no confirmation. Infants and catachumens (converts) are baptized, chrismated and receive communion at the same time.

 

[JVAC]

Lutherans have a confirmation process. We have two years of weekly confirmation classes when we're around 12-13 (although adult classes are available as well). The confirmation is a public re-affirmation of our baptisms.

This is from LCMS.org and Lutheran Worship:


-Confirmation is a custom of the church and not a sacrament. It links the catechumens to their Baptism, celebrates the reception of the Lord's Word among them and, in cases where the candidates have not yet communed, welcomes them to the Lord's Table. Luther strongly urges in both catechisms that those who are unwilling to learn, at the very least, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer should not be admitted to the Sacrament. Baptized Christians are admitted to the Sacrament when they have been examined and absolved by their pastor in accordance with the practice outlined in the Augsburg Confession (Article XXV).

-Confirmation declares of a catechumen that he/she is a Christian who has been baptized, confesses the faith, and is in communion with Christ and His Church. The reception of catechumens to the Lord's Table assumes that ongoing catechesis is the way of life for the faithful Christian. This rite emphasizes God's work in Baptism, the gift of faith, and the promises of the Lord's Supper for all who believe in Christ and the words of His testament.

-Guidance for pastoral examination of candidates is provided in the Agenda: Pastoral Care.

-The Rite of Confirmation takes place in the Divine Service before the Prayer of the Church, or in the baptismal liturgy of the Vigil of Easter. Catechumens gather near the font, before the chancel steps, or before the altar as local custom dictates.


The Confirmation in the service:

The presiding minister addresses the catechumens.

P Beloved in the Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ said to His apostles: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” You have been baptized and catechized in the Christian faith according to our Lord's bidding. Jesus said, “whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Lift up your hearts, therefore, to the God of all grace and joyfully give answer to what I now ask you in the name of the Lord.


Pastor- Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge the gifts that God gave you in your baptism?

Response- Yes, I do.


P Do you renounce the devil?

R Yes, I renounce the devil.

P Do you renounce all his works?

R Yes, I renounce all his works.

P Do you renounce all his ways?

R Yes, I renounce all his ways.


P Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?

R Yes, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.


P Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord?

R Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.


P Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

R Yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.


P Do you hold all the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God?

R I do.


P Do you confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, drawn from the Scriptures, as you have learned to know it from the Small Catechism, to be faithful and true?

R I do.


P Do you intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord's Supper faithfully?

R I do, by the grace of God.


P Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?

R I do, by the grace of God.


P Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?

P I do, by the grace of God.


P We rejoice with thankful hearts that you have been baptized and have received the teaching of the Lord. You have confessed the faith and been absolved of your sins. As you continue to hear the Lord's Word and receive His blessed Sacrament, He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

C Amen.

The catechumens kneel to receive the confirmation blessing and passage of Holy Scripture. The pastor places his hands on the head of the catechumen and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead while saying:

P Name , the almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of water and the Holy Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life + everlasting.

C Amen.

The pastor may give a confirmation certificate and read a text of Holy Scripture as a remembrance of confirmation. After all the catechumens have received the blessing, all stand for one or both of the following collects.

P Let us pray.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for Your great goodness in bringing these Your Sons and daughters to the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and enabling them both with the heart to believe and with the mouth to confess His saving name. Grant that, bringing forth the fruits of faith, they may continue steadfast and victorious to the day when all who have fought the good fight of faith shall receive the crown of righteousness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

P Almighty and most merciful Father, in the waters of Holy Baptism You have united Your children in the suffering and death of Your Son Jesus Christ, cleansing them by His blood. Renew in them the gift of Your Holy Spirit that they may live in daily contrition and repentance with a faith which ever clings to their Savior. Deliver them from the power of Satan and preserve them from false and dangerous doctrines, that they may remain faithful in hearing Christ's Word and receiving His body and blood. By the Lord's Supper strengthen them to believe that no one can make satisfaction for sin but Christ alone. Enable them to find joy and comfort only in Him, learning from this Sacrament to love You and their neighbor and to bear their cross with patience and joy until the day of the resurrection of their bodies to life immortal, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

P Peace + be with you.

C Amen.

Usually, in my church, the congregation joins in the confession of faith (Apostles creed). Depending on the size of the class and if you do it in conjunction with other congregations, the Bishop may preside. (The Bishop may preside if he wishes even on confirmations small in number). I think it is Anglican/Episcopal practice to only be confirmed in the presence of a Bishop.

After the Rite of Confirmation has been performed the Confirmand(s) become fully functional members (That is, they may vote, lector, serve on Council, serve in a guild, etc.)

 

[AngelAmidala]

Wow...I can't go into as much detail as Breetai at the moment...but I'm a United Methodist and we do have Confirmation. I'm helping out with the Confirmation Class at my church right now.

Basically it's the youth (generally around 7th grade) making the personal decision to follow Christ, and stating it in front of the congregation. Their parents made this decision for them at baptism, but now it's their turn to make the choice.

When I get home to my hymnal (or I get a chance to find a copy online) I can post the section on it for you.

 

[bigsierra]

When I get home to my hymnal (or I get a chance to find a copy online) I can post the section on it for you.

Thanks, I look forward to seeing it.

 

[wvmtnkid]

As Angel is, I am a United Methodist and we have a confirmation for our youth. I won't speak for Angel's church but this is how we do it in mine:

We have a mentoring process where the youth is paired up with an adult from the congregation. We have material that we work through, generally a 15 week period. We cover many topics together, such as God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Worship, Death and Resurrection, gifts, prayer, baptism, communion, and service. Because ours is Methodist, we talk about what doctrine the Methodists uphold, basically, why we are Methodists. We cover missions, how the church works, their place in the Church, their place as a Christian in the world. We visit other places of faith to compare the differences and similarities of them to ours, we visit a funeral home in connection with the lesson on death and resurrection, we do a mission project together. It is a really good time to get to know this young person that is making a very important decision in their lives and help them with this process. As Angel said, Methodists believe in infant baptism, so if the child was baptized as an infant their parents made this choice for them. At confirmation, the youth publically gets to affirm this choice theirselves. If they have not been baptized, they can choose to be baptized at the time of their confirmation. The mentor, after going through the teaching time with the youth, acts as their sponsor and recommends them for membership at that time, if both feel this is a step the confirmand is ready to take. Up until this time, they are considered what we call a Preparatory member of the church. After confirmation and they take their membership vows, they become a full member of the church.

I did some looking on the net for the confirmation service but could not find an on-line copy of the hymnal. Hopefully Angel can get a copy from her hymnal that she can post later!

 

[catholicboy]

jvac, I was just wondering what kind of church you attend. In the Catholic Church it is the common practice that the Bishop do all of the confirmations, but today there are a lot of churches and sometimes he can't make them all so he appoints a "vicar" to stand in his place at all confirmations he himseld can't attend.

God bless you!

Aaron