Introduction

Welcome to the Confirmation Program at Barrington United Methodist Church. As you share in the confirmation process you will have an opportunity to learn about the Christian faith and to know what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. All of us who share in leading the confirmation process are eager to work with you in this exciting and formative time in your lives. As you will see, the confirmation process involves learning, serving, fellowship, spiritual growth, relationships, and fun. We are glad you are going to be a part of the Confirmation Program.

Historically, confirmation is a ministry of the church when persons are instructed in the essentials of the Christian faith and prepared for the life of discipleship. The purpose of the confirmation process is to lead persons to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and to make a commitment to walk as his disciples. Confirmation is directly related to baptism. Originally, the church instructed candidates during Lent, and then on Easter morning, the candidates made a public confession of Jesus Christ as Lord, were baptized and became both Christian disciples and members of the church. As baptism of infants became a common practice, confirmation became a process in which a person who had reached the age of accountability was instructed in the faith and called "to confirm" the vows made at his or her baptism. In the United Methodist tradition, we practice the baptism of infants and confirmation is understood as the process leading to a person's acceptance of the vows of baptism for herself or himself. Simply put, confirmation is the process by which one accepts the vows of baptism; namely, the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord of their life and the commitment to live as his disciple. Church membership is a separate, but related, issue. In fact, in the church's ritual the issues of confirmation of one's faith or baptismal vows and a decision to become a church member are two separate questions. This difference is recognized at Barrington United Methodist Church. At the time of decision, the student will be asked two questions, one pertaining to their desire to be confirmed in the Christian faith and a second pertaining to their desire to become a member of Barrington United Methodist Church.

Confirmation, then, involves helping a person to claim the name of "Christian" for themselves. It is a personal decision in that each of us must make the decision for ourselves. Yet, it is also a community decision in that the decision is made, not in isolation, but in the context of a community of faith. It involves confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and making a commitment to live according to the Good News Jesus both is and proclaims. Confirmation is a time of formation when young people are instructed in the faith, exposed to life in a covenant community, and experience what it means to live as a disciple. As a participant in the Confirmation Program at Barrington United Methodist Church, you are being asked to consciously embrace the Christian faith and the life of discipleship as your own.

Confirmation is one of the most important ministries of Barrington United Methodist Church. We are committed to help our youth to learn about the Christian faith and what it means to follow Christ Jesus.

Assumptions

There are a number of assumptions that underlie the Confirmation Program at Barrington United Methodist Church. First, we assume that confirmation must be focused on the formation of Christian disciples. "Making disciples" is the mission of the church. Confirmation is how that mission is realized among middle high students. Second, we assume that confirmation is a critically important ministry of the church to and with middle highs. Confirmation, in its various aspects, is the centerpiece of the church's ministry with middle highs. Third, we assume confirmation is a comprehensive experience, involving the whole person. Because persons learn in a variety of ways, the Confirmation Program will include cognitive, relational, experiential, and spiritual aspects. Fourth, we assume confirmation must be an integrated experience, including service to the church, fellowship, the CCLife program, and field trips.

Staff

The Confirmation Staff will include Pastors Wilson and Anderson, Director of Youth Ministries, John Adams, Chris Streed, and parental small group leaders. Pastor Wilson will serve as teacher and coordinator. Chris Streed will serve as Co-teacher. Pastor Wilson and Chris Streed will lead the class in the majority of the sessions. Pastor Anderson and John Adams will teach periodically. The parental small group leaders will participate each week facilitating the small group segment of the class.

The Program

The Confirmation Program is a two-year process designed for seventh and eighth grade students. The rationale for a two year program is as follows. The two-year program takes into consideration the maturation happening in the lives of twelve to fourteen year old youth. We believe a two-year process allows the student to be nurtured in the maturation of their faith and spiritual development during this time of great change. We also believe that the two-year process permits a more lasting formation of their identity as disciples. We believe, thirdly, that the two-year process enables relationships to be nurtured among peers in ways that are beneficial.

The classroom portion of the Confirmation Program will be taught on Sunday mornings during the Christian Education hour. We believe that holding the class on Sunday mornings permits families to participate in Christian education experiences. We also believe that since worship is a critical aspect of the confirmation process, the Sunday morning time offers the best option to connect learning and participation in worship. Furthermore, we are aware of family and middle high schedules and Sunday morning offers a time normally reserved for church activities.

The Confirmation Program will offer a variety of experiences, each of which promote learning and growth in faith. The classroom experience will be primarily cognitive with aspects of relational and experiential learning. The fellowship and retreat experiences will help youth learn what it means to live together in a covenant community. There will be service aspects of the process designed to teach the significance of serving Christ Jesus and one another as disciples. Confirmands will serve as acolytes for the morning worship services.

Students will be expected to participate in the Confirmation Program with regular attendance at the various activities. This means regular attendance at the class, worship service, CC Life, retreats and special events. We cannot accomplish the objectives of the Confirmation Program unless the students are present. Participants should attend at a minimum 90% of the classes. A 90% attendance would translate into no more than five absences. If attendance becomes an issue, a conference with parents will be held.

One of the significant realities of the life of faith is sharing in the covenant community. The idea of covenant is a vital reality of the biblical faith. The Confirmation Program is a covenant experience. We will use the concept of covenant at several points. To begin the process, students, parents, and teachers will enter into a covenant. Using the idea of covenant helps to teach what it means to live responsibly and ethically in community.

Students will have assignments each week. These assignments will include reading from the JOURNEY TO DISCIPLESHIP or MY CONFIRMATION student book, handouts that supplement the readings, and a Bible passage. The assignments are expected to be completed before the student comes to class. Each student should bring the JOURNEY TO DISCIPLESHIP or MY CONFIRMATION student book, a Bible (preferably a NRSV edition), a loose leaf binder, and a pen or pencil to class each week.

Curriculum

The confirmation curriculum will be a two year cycle. Some material will be taught each year. Some topics will be addressed each year but with different emphases. Some material will be taught in one year. The Cycle A curriculum will be the standard United Methodist confirmation study entitled, JOURNEY TO DISCIPLESHIP. The Cycle B curriculum will feature a more extensive study of the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the Church. The student book is MY CONFIRMATION. A copy of the schedule of topics to be covered is available. The topics include: The Meaning of Confirmation, Prayer, the History of the Church, the United Methodist Church, Worship and the Sacraments, Our Basic Beliefs (God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Sin, Justification and Salvation, Faith, Christian Morals), Life in the Spirit, and Discipleship. We are planning two retreat experiences during the year. These experiences offer extended learning opportunities, relationship building, fellowship and fun.

Expectations

Because confirmation is a significant experience, we would like to state explicitly the expectations of staff, students, and parents. These expectations are part of the covenant vows for each of the participants.

Staff

As members of the Confirmation Staff we promise to:

1. Surround each Confirmand with an environment of Christian love and support
2. Model the faith and discipleship we teach
3. Enlist the cooperation of church members, parents, and mentors to support the Confirmand
4. Share both my faith and my journey with the Confirmands.

Confirmands

As Confirmands we promise to:

1. Attend regularly and participate fully in class sessions, worship, and other confirmation-related activities
2. Come to class on time and with lessons prepared
3. Commit myself to learning what it means to be a Christian disciple
4. Conduct myself appropriately and treat others respectfully.

Parents

As parents we promise to:

1. Assist my child on the confirmation journey
2. Support my child's participate in the confirmation activities
3. Be a role model of what it means to be a Christian for my child.

Conclusion

Now that you have had an opportunity to learn about the Confirmation Program at Barrington United Methodist Church, it is hopefully apparent that it is a high priority for our church. We believe that our middle high students are capable of learning that is challenging, intentional and integrative. One only has to consider the curriculum in math and science they encounter in school. To "dumb down" their instruction in the faith would be a disservice to them and to the mission that God in Christ has given the church. The intended outcome of the Confirmation Program is a youth who is knowledgeable about his or her faith, committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and intentional about living a life of Christian discipleship. By the grace of God in Christ, the cooperative efforts of students, parents, mentors and staff, we trust that this outcome will be realized.