For both youth and adults, confirmation is about being able to confess and profess your Christian faith before men (Matthew 10:32-33). It is a public acknowledgement of what you believe.
Confirmation is preceded by a time of learning and studying God’s Word so that you can make that public confession. For youth, confirmation involves studying God’s Word, studying the catechism (the doctrine or teaching from the Scriptures written in a Question and Answer format), and committing that teaching of God’s Word to one’s hearts. It is a time of in-depth study as well as a time of reflection and a chance to ask a multitude of questions!
The responsibility to teach a child the Christian faith lies primarily with mom and dad (Ephesians 6:4). However, the pastor and the church also carry a responsibility to teach and to assist in teaching. The pastor also has a responsibility to examine someone before confirming them (Ephesians 4; 1 Timothy 4:11-16). Often times, this shared responsibility involves youth attending a weekly confirmation class with the pastor and the parents working with their children at home. Sometimes both parents and children attend the classes or worship services. Such classes are scheduled based on pastor’s schedule and the schedule of the families who are participating.
Because not all kids are the same (some are ready sooner than others), confirmation ages can vary. The general rule has been two years of classes during 7th-8th grade. Ideally, children will have much more instruction either at home or through church prior to this age.
If you are interested in having your child attend classes or want more information, feel free to contact us.