confirmation in the early lutheran church: an overview marvin bergman concordia u nebraska the nebraska district

1. 1 CONFIRMATION IN THE EARLY LUTHERAN CHURCH: AN OVERVIEWMarvin BergmanConcordia U Nebraska & The Nebraska District

2. 2 QUESTION “Confirmation originally was part of the rite of Christian initiation (baptism-confirmation-eucharist)…then confirmation was separated from baptism…Now we no longer have a true grasp of the basic questions, ‘WHAT IS CON- MATION?’ and ‘WHY DO WE DO THIS?’” “What we have is only a fragment…How do we recover the whole from the fragment? What is the whole from which the fragment derives?”

3. 3 OVERVIEW: CONFIRMATION IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCH “The basic problem/issue: the meaning and purpose of confirmation.” Confirmation in the Lutheran Church is not a continuing of confirmation in the early church, the Roman Catholic, the Orthodox Church. In the medieval church, confirmation completed baptism by adding the gift of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation - necessary for salvation!

4. 4 OVERVIEW (Continued) Confirmation became a sacrament in 1439, being effective ex opere operato. Luther denounced confirmation as “monkey business” and “mumbo-jumbo.” Luther did permit confirmation if it did not denigrate baptism or become a sacrament. Luther’s focus: both baptism and Lord’s Supper, which integrated a confession of faith and being absolved prior to Holy Communion

5. 5 OVERVIEW (Continued) Development of confirmation followed no one pattern over a period of three centuries. Four types developed in the 16th century. 1. Catechetical. Focus on instruction with no rite of confirmation. Aim: preparing for Holy Communion. One became a catechumen prior to each reception of Holy Communion. Called profession of baptism, admission to Holy Communion, catechetical instruction.

6. 6 OVERVIEW (Continued) Usual form of instruction: catechetical sermons. Candidates examined privately or in presence of a congregation; this could occur several times. An annual service was held for all members called “Genuine Christian Confirmation.” Instruction as admission to Holy Communion was the practice in parts of Germany and in the Scandinavian countries.

7. 7 OVERVIEW (Continued) Three elements: instruction, confession, prayers. There was no rite of confirmation in many congregations. This was the most widely practiced model in the 16th-17th centuries.

8. 8 OVERVIEW (Continued) 2. The Hierarchical Type Focus: Surrender to Christ and vow of obedience to the church (Bucer) in response to Anabaptist criticism. One result: creation of many little popes. More Zwinglian than Lutheran.

9. 9 OVERVIEW (Continued) 3. Sacramental Focus: Gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands and a fuller membership in the church. Seen by some as completing baptism and conferring a new kind of membership. Reflected influence of Bucer. Seen to be inconsistent with Lutheran theology.

10. 10 OVERVIEW (Continued) 4. The Traditional Focus: a return to the basics: Baptism and Holy Communion. Parents and sponsors presented son or daughter to congregation to make a confession of faith. 1535 was the earliest date of a ceremony . For Melanchthon, the basics were: instruction, confession of faith, prayers, laying on of hands.

11. 11 OVERVIEW (Continued) Melanchthon was ready to have first Communion precede confirmation. Laying on of hands was a stumbling block for some, who then dropped confirmation. The usual sequence: instruction, confession of faith, preparation for Holy Communion, then first Communion. Right to commune a gift of Baptism, not confirmation.

12. 12 OVERVIEW (Continued) Age was not seen as an important criterion for the first Communion. Schooling did not play a role for most. The age was rarely higher than age 12; some set an age range between 10-15 years of age. In Denmark, some were admitted at ages 6 or 7.

13. 13 SUMMARY Historical study reveals no one model or definition of confirmation. The Catechetical Model: instruction, confession of faith, prayers (without a rite) reflects the essentials of youth confirmation. If a ceremony is added, additional essentials are: a public confession of faith, a vow, a laying on of hands.

14. 14 WHAT, THEN, IS CONFIRMATION? Essentials: 1. The heart of confirmation: instruction prior to the rite when the Word confirms faith 2. A personal confession of faith witnessed by a congregation; 3. Intercessory prayer 4. Laying on of hands when understood as being symbolic

15. 15 WHAT IS TO BE ELIMINATED IN CONFIRMATION Renewal of baptismal covenant Reception into church membership Vows as a lifetime promise The handclasp as granting new rights and privileges of church membership Any exaggeration of confirmation above the means of grace

16. 16 EXPANDING YOUTH CONFIRMATION: POSSIBILITIES CLARIFYING BASIC QUESTIONS 1. What is the Purpose of Youth Confirmation? 2. What is Youth Confirmation? 3. What are the Goals of Youth Confirmation?

17. 17 THE PURPOSE OF CONFIRMATION A confirmand as a baptized child of God is to possess a more developed personal faith life in response to the means of grace, so that as a maturing Christian (one will) more fully live the life in Christ and be able to participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion in a worthy manner. (Confirmation in the Lutheran Church, 199)

18. 18 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUTH CONFIRMATION? THE PURPOSE OF YOUTH CONFIRMATION MINISTRY A Confirmand, Empowered by the Means of Grace, is Equipped through Family, Called Church Workers, and a Congregation to Express a Biblical Worldview and To Live as a Disciple of Jesus Christ Engaged in Mission and Ministry. (m.b.)

19. 19 A DEFINITION OF CONFIRMATION “Confirmation is a pastoral and educational ministry of the church that is designed to help baptized children identify with the life and mission of the adult Christian community and that is celebrated in a public rite.” (Confirmation and First Communion, 141)

20. 20 WHAT IS CONFIRMATION? Four essentials of youth confirmation: * 1. Instruction in the Word of God * 2. A Public Confession of Faith * 3. Intercessory Prayers of the Congregation 4. Equipping for Mission and Ministry * Repp, Arthur. Confirmation in the Lutheran Church.

21. 21 EXPANDING YOUTH CONFIRMATION

22. 22 3. CONFIRMATION MINISTRY GOALS: FOUR FOCI 1. Biblical Narrative 2. Six Chief Parts 3. Worship, Sacraments, Mission, Ministry 4. Living as Christ’s Disciple

23. 23 3. WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF YOUTH CONFIRMATION? (Examples of Leader Responses) Very Somewhat Important Important Important Not 1. Help one to grow in faith 83% 15% 2% 0 2. Worship & com- 79% 20% 1% 0 mune faithfully 3. Affirm Scripture 78% 19% 3% .4% as Source & Norm 4. Prepare for Holy 69% 21% 6% 4% Communion

24. 24 POSSIBLE GOALS: YOUTH CONFIRMATION - Make a Public Confession of Faith - Practice Daily Prayer and Meditation - Nurture Faith through Worship & Sacraments - Commit to Scripture as Source & Norm - Describe Role of the Lutheran Confessions - Anticipate Study: The Large Catechism & A.C. - Integrate Biblical Images and Stories - Connect Scripture & The Six Chief Parts

25. 25 POSSIBLE GOALS: YOUTH CONFIRMATION - Make Applications of the Six Chief Parts - Live daily in the Light of One’s Baptism - Connect with the Faith Nurturing of a Family - Value Pastoral Relationship with Called Worker - Connect with a Network of Christian Friends - Meet with an Adult Mentor or Mentors - Articulate a Clear Moral Value Foundation - State Biblical Views on Moral Issues

26. 26 POSSIBLE GOALS: YOUTH CONFIRMATION - Engage in the Liturgies of the Church - Sing the Church’s Hymns & Songs - Practice Confession & Absolution - Participate in Service Projects - See Life Purpose as Vocation/Discipleship - Identify One’s Gifts for Servant Leadership - Grasp the Nature & Purpose of Family - Articulate the Mission of the Church

27. 27 POSSIBLE GOALS: YOUTH CONFIRMATION - Serve in One’s Congregation - Equip Parents as Nurturers of Faith - Demonstrate Ability to Share One’s Faith - Identify “Witness Windows of Opportunity” - Pray for the Non-Connected - Participate in Evangelism Events

28. 28

29. 29 1. A VISION A Vision Presents: - A Big Picture - A Focus - In a Succinct Statement - Owned by Leaders & Congregation

30. 30 2. A MISSION STATEMENT In Broad Strokes, a Mission Statement Names: - Your Identity - Recipients of Ministry - What is to be Accomplished - Where Action is to Occur - How People are to be Served - Benefits to Church and Society

31. 31 3. A DEFINITION AND RATIONALE 1. A Definition: “Confirmation Ministry is…” 2. A Rationale: “Confirmation Ministry is Important Because…”

32. 32 4. CORE BELIEFS Core Beliefs: What One Will Die For CORE BELIEFS OF ST. MARKS ARE: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

33. 33 5. CORE VALUES Core Values: Preferred Choices Expected to be Seen in Youth Confirmation Ministry 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

34. 34 6. ASSETS Assets are Gifts To Be Invested in Ministry Gifts and Resources that Can be Invested In Youth Confirmation Ministry: 1. 2. 3.

35. 35 7. GOALS GOALS are broad targets that serve as guides. Goals of Youth Confirmation Ministry Are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

36. 36 8. STRUCTURE Based on goals, a structure names key components of a unit which consists of several sessions. Topic or Focus When Where Who Leads

37. 37 9. MODULES A MODULE is a planning unit that names: 1. An Objective turns a goal into an observable target 2. A Strategy for Reaching the Objective 3. Resources that are Needed 4. Feedback and Evaluation (A module may require 10-30 minutes, with a session consisting of three, four, or five modules.)

38. 38 10. EVALUATION - At Beginnings of Events - During Events - At Conclusions - Informal and Formal

39. 39 RESOURCES Arand, Charles. THAT I MAY BE HIS OWN. Concordia Publishing House, 2000. Clark, Chap. HURT. Baker Publishing, 2004. Klos, Frank. CONFIRMATION AND FIRST COMMUNION. CPH, 1968. Everist, Norma. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AS EVANGELISM. Fortress Press, 2007.

40. 40 RESOURCES Kinnaman, David. UNChristian. Baker Books, 2007. Regnerus, Mark. FORBIDDEN FRUIT. Oxford U Press, 2007. Repp, Arthur. CONFIRMATION IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCH. CPH, 1964 Smith, Christian. SOUL SEARCHING. Oxford U Press, 2005.