Confirmation

The Book of Common Prayer (2019) provides this preface to the confirmation liturgy:

The Anglican Church requires a public and personal profession of the Faith from every adult believer in Jesus
Christ. Confirmation by a Bishop is its liturgical expression. Confirmation is clearly grounded in Scripture: the Apostles prayed for, and laid their hands on those who had already been baptized (2 Timothy 1:6-7; Acts 8:14-17; 19:6).

In Confirmation, through the Bishop’s laying on of hands and prayer for daily increase in the Holy Spirit, God strengthens the believer for Christian life in the service of Christ and his kingdom. Grace is God’s gift, and we pray that he will pour out his Holy Spirit on those who have already been made his children by adoption and grace in Baptism.

And the Customary on Liturgy from our Diocese adds: 


This Apostolic laying on of hands for the empowering of the Holy Spirit is why we refer to confirmation as ‘Ordination of the People.’ Confirmation is seen as normative for the church and is a significant event in the spiritual life of the confirmand. The Apostolic laying on of hands for the empowering of the Holy Spirit also makes confirmation not just about what the confirmand confirms publicly, but also about what God is confirming in the confirmand.

Candidates for confirmation must be properly instructed in the Christian faith and life, repentant of their sins, and duly prepared to make a mature, public commitment to following Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Therefore, at CTF we prepare confirmands with the following teachings, recognizing that in many ways confirmation classes are only a step in the life-long journey of maturity in Christ:

  • The Lord’s Prayer

  • The Ten Commandments

  • The Apostles’ Creed

  • Anglican Faith

  • Anglican History

  • Anglican Spirituality

Each class will be an approximately 1 hour conversation around the topic, facilitated by the rector and others. Contact Father Dan with any questions and to find out when the next round of classes will begin (daniel.hanlon@ctfa.church).