CONFIRMATION MINISTRY

Confirmation Ministry meets Wednesday nights during the school year, from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. It is designed to give our 7th and 8th graders a chance to explore, question and discuss their faith as they prepare to affirm their baptisms in the Rite of Confirmation in October of their 9th Grade year.

Vision

It is not our purpose to provide a series of “hoops” for youth to jump through so that they can “graduate” from church.  Rather, we want to work with both youth and their families to provide a ministry that will interest them as well as help them choose whether or not to let their faith shape their lives.  We hope to: help youth hear the Gospel message as it applies to them, figure out how to live it in their own circles, choose to follow Christ and to be aware of the growth process implicit in a Christian life-style.

Goal

Provide youth with the experiences, community, support, and information they need to inspire them to make a spot for Christ at the center of their lives and to live their faith.

Achieving That Goal

Teaching attitude:  Outreach vs indoctrination

• Model unconditional love and respect.
• Provide a space where their needs are met – let youth experience God’s saving grace.

Give youth a safe space/forum to internalize/question/wrestle with their faith.

• Communicate the Gospel in ways that touch their hearts
• Model, discuss, advocate and otherwise communicate to them the values of:

Nurture in youth an outlook and approach to life modeled on Christ’s life.

• Help them to form a “faith-support” group of peers.
• Help youth see that they are the church and take ownership of it.

It is our goal to engage youth in a personal faith search.  It’s our task to walk with them, to listen to them, and to encourage them to be open about their questions and concerns.  We do not attempt to confirm biblical scholars.  We do hope to confirm students of faith for life.  We hope that through the differing activities provided under the heading of “Confirmation Ministry,” they will make a spot for Christ at the center of their lives.

Assumptions

Confirmation ministry is based on a few simple assumptions.  These assumptions undergird each component, every lesson, every question, and every activity.  These assumptions reflect our understanding of faith as a whole.

1. Confirmation is viewed as ministry rather than religious education. Confirmation ministry is not only about transferring knowledge.  It is designed to encourage questioning and discovery. Confirmation Ministry recognizes that faith is a way of life – not a school subject
   
   
2. Confirmation ministry is Christ-centered. It involves creating an environment where Jesus can be discovered, questions can be asked, forgiveness given and a sense of belonging felt.  “Christ-centered” means this is a place for searchers and sinners, for people who need a Savior.
   
   
3. Confirmation is creating experiences in a Christian community and it is entering into service to others.  It is being compassionate to one another.  It is cooperation rather than competition.  Confirmation ministry is the good news of the Gospel touching the lives of young people and affecting their souls for life.
   
   
4. Confirmands do not exist alone. Instead, they exist within a family community, and the family bears the primary responsibility for the faith development of the confirmand.  Ministry is a joint effort between the confirmands, their families, the leaders and the staff.  Therefore, effective ministry cannot be done in confirmation without including the parents and families.  Church leaders cannot transform lives on their own.  We need to nurture not only the confirmand, but also the family and especially the parents.
   
   
5. Finally, we recognize that confirmation ministry involves middle school and early high school age youth.  Developmentally, students during these years are not highly receptive to one more set of “facts to learn”.  Socially, emotionally and physically, they are involved in dramatic and rapid change. These years are a time for preparation for the adult world.  It is the “job” of youth to test boundaries, to question values and to begin developing life-style patterns.

If the church doesn’t meet a youth’s primary needs for acceptance, self-worth, meaning and community, why should they care what Martin Luther said?  Meeting these needs and encouraging youth to see and accept a their place in God’s bigger picture is the message of the Gospel and the point of Confirmation Ministry.

Participation & Expectations

1. Confirmation Ministry is not viewed or led as an academic subject. The effectiveness of this ministry depends on each youth growing, questioning and exploring his or her faith together.  This requires everyone to be a part of the mix.  Therefore, each student in the program is expected to attend and participate in all meetings and confirmation activities. We understand absences will occur on occasion because of illness or family commitments, but we ask that we be notified prior to the absence if possible.
   
   
2. Since confirmation is preparation for each youth to make the adult decision to promise to follow Christ throughout their lives, certain basic assumptions concerning behavior are made. ALL PEOPLE – YOUTH AND ADULT – ARE EXPECTED TO TREAT ONE ANOTHER WITH RESPECT AND TO FOLLOW THE BEHAVIOR COVENANT. Each youth are expected to turn in signed copies of the behavior contract (Behavior Contract).
   
   
3. Since worship is a vital part of life as an “adult” child of God, and since each youth is deciding whether or not to become an adult member of this congregation, each youth is expected to worship regularly.   Our goal is to enable each youth to find within the worship experience a time to reconnect with God and deepen their faith. Also we want Trinity’s worship opportunities to be interesting, challenging and faith building for all ages.  In order to accomplish these goals, we need help youth learn to look carefully at the worship experience and give us feedback. To this end, each youth will be asked to fill out and hand in 15 Confirmation Worship Notes per year – a total of 30 (Worship Notes Form, Example).
   
   
4. Since service is a vital part of life as an adult child of God.  Service opportunities will be emphasized and encouraged.  We don’t require specific service activities because it’s important for youth to learn to serve according to their passions and gifts.  We do however, require that each youth spend 15 hours per year serving others in some way. We ask that you help us keep track of these by signing and turning in “service hours” forms (Service Hours Form).
   
   
5. There are two weekend Retreats per year. These take place at accredited ELCA camps.  And the dates reserved are made available at the first orientation meetings in August.  Normally, we use Crossways – Pine Lake Camp.  These are required experiences and make-up work needs to be done if a student misses a retreat.  There is also, a pre-confirmation 9th grade overnight required. This takes place in a Sunday to Monday overnight in August.
   
   
6. Finally, because our program requires the use of a variety of materials, each student is asked to pay a resource fee of $20.  We also ask that – if at all possible – parents cover the $65.00 per student retreat cost for each retreat. The total fee of $150 (resouce fee plus 2 retreats), is due on the first day of confirmation. (Scholarships are always available for those who need assistance.)

Typical Wednesday Night

• Video/Activity discussion starters.
• Time to explore, question and discuss God, Jesus, faith, the church, the Bible, Christian living.
• Some time to get to know each other better, have a snack, hang out, form “fellow traveler bonds”, and just enjoy each other’s company.

The evening is usually a combination of small and large group activities – the mix varies by week and subject.

2011 Schedule