What are Confessionals?

[A New Dawn]

OK, this probably sounds like a stupid question, but, having belonged for most of my life to a church that is so completely different from Protestantism, I am just learning about everything, and I have never heard of Confessionals before. So ...................... if someone could explain what a Confessional is in 25 words or less (just kidding ), I would be much appreciative.

Thanks.

 

[HiredGoon]

The word "confessional" has recently been incorrectly used here in SR in several threads. In those posts, the posters were mostly refering to the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), the doctrinal standard subordinate to Holy Scripture of most Presbyterian Churches. It is correctly referred to as a confession not a "confessional."

Together with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, these three documents form the Westminster Standards.

Calvinistic Baptists have the 1689 London Confession of Faith

The Dutch Reformed use the Belgic Confession, Canons of Dordt, Heidelberg Catechism as their doctrinal standards, also known as the Three Forms of Unity.

 

[StAnselm]

Confessionals are also things that Catholics go to to get their sins forgiven.

 

[A New Dawn]

Confessionals are also things that Catholics go to to get their sins forgiven.

Now THAT I knew. But I think it is what HiredGoon posted that is what I wanted.

Thanks, Hired Goon. Now to try to read through them and figure out what the mean. If I have any questions, I'll be back.

 

[HiredGoon]

Also, if you hear someone use the terms "confessional church" or "confessional evangelical," it usually means they subscribe to one or more of these confessions as their doctrinal standards.