The Return of Confirmation

By Matt Acton

Three clergymen were meeting to talk about their recent pest problem. Apparently all three were struggling with bats in their respective churches. The first minister said that they spent thousands of dollars on an exterminator, but when he was finished, the bats returned. The second minister said that they tried to use expensive traps and poison, but somehow they couldn't get rid of the bats. The third minister said that all they did was baptize and confirm them and the bats haven't been seen since.

We've seen baptisms of all ages at Central Presbyterian Church, but what we haven't seen in a few years is Confirmation. For those who don't know, Confirmation is a Christian rite of passage. It's an opportunity for youth to reaffirm the commitments that their parents made for them at the time of their baptism. It is also how youth can become members of a church body.

I still remember my Confirmation experience growing up. In my church, Confirmation happened when you reached ninth grade. All ninth graders spent most of that year in a class together; and at the end of that time (during Lent), we would all be confirmed as members of the church. I know for some of my peers growing up, Confirmation was forced upon them by their parents. Once confirmed, we never saw them in the church again (like the bats!). However for me, it was a significant milestone in my faith development. I remember it as the time when I started asking questions and taking my faith seriously for the first time. When I plot out the events that have led me to where I am on my spiritual journey, it starts with Confirmation.

At the beginning of the year, we reinstated Confirmation at Central Presbyterian Church as one of our Sunday Morning Oasis Options. Instead of it being a mandatory class for only ninth graders, we opened it up to all interested high school students. We stressed that those going through the Confirmation process were doing so because it's what they desired, not because it was something forced upon them. We were overjoyed when over twenty students chose for themselves to take seriously this commitment.

For the past semester, the Confirmation option has participated in discussions covering topics on spiritual gifts, salvation, prayer, God's Word, the Apostles' Creed, evangelism, the Church, and more. On Thursday night, they met with some members of Session and shared a meal as well as their own personal testimonies.

We are excited today to recognize and celebrate those students who have stepped forward and reaffirmed their commitment to Christ and His church. This is a group of students who will continue to serve God and this church long after today.