What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is when a baptized person, who has been instructed in the Christian faith, makes a mature commitment to God within a worship setting and receives a special blessing and prayer from a bishop.
How old do I have to be to get Confirmed?
There is no hard and fast rule, beyond that the person must be old enough to make his or her own mature and informed affirmation of faith in Christ. Our tradition at St. Nicholas Church is to Confirm at or near a person’s 15th birthday, since that is the age when a person is permitted by our parish bylaws to become a full voting member of our congregation and eligible to serve on our Vestry (governing board).
What do I have to do to become Confirmed?
- Contact a member of the clergy to express your interest.
- Prepare by exploring spiritual and practical commitments you will make as part of Confirmation, eitherinindividual meetings with a clergy person or as part of a Confirmation preparation program. These traditionally include:
- A spiritual commitment to fellowship, communion, and prayer. We discuss how to nourish our own spiritual life and that of our family, friends, and fellow congregation members.
- A practical commitment of time, talent, and treasure. We discuss ways of practically ordering one’s life to include the spiritual commitments; how one’s skills, interests, and spiritual gifts might be put to work in the church and the world; and how to discern what level of financial commitment God may be calling you to make to the work of the Church (in preparation for making one’s own individual Giving Estimate.
- Schedule a time to appear before the bishop. This may be when the bishop visits our parish or at the Cathedral. Episcopal visits generally occur on a more-or-less annual basis. Cathedral Confirmations are offer 2-3 times a year, at least once in the spring and once in the fall.
What is Reception?
Reception is when a person who has been baptized, instructed in the Christian faith, and Confirmed in another denomination reaffirms the mature commitment to God made in in that denomination to a bishop within a worship setting, is welcomed by the bishop into the Anglican/Episcopal tradition, and receives a special blessing and prayer. Since not all denominations separate baptism and confirmation, it is generally a good idea to discuss this with the clergy to determine whether Confirmation or Reception is the right choice for you.
How old do I have to be to get Received?
Again, there is no hard and fast rule, though most people who choose to be Received have already reached adulthood. Otherwise, our tradition in Reception is the same as for Confirmation: 15 year of age, so that you may become a fully contributing member of the parish in every aspect.
What do I have to do to become Received?
- Contact a member of the clergy to express your interest.
- Prepare by exploring spiritual and practical commitments you will reaffirm at your Reception. These are the same as for Confirmation (above).
- Schedule a time to appear before the bishop. The same as with Confirmation (above).
