Adult Commitment to Faith
An adult coming to faith is making a deep and powerful change in their life. Whether it’s a dramatic change of direction, or the acceptance of a slowly growing truth, entrance into the Christian faith is a significant moment. Both the individual and the church will want to mark this time deliberately and joyfully.
Baptism
Some adults will not have been baptised as children. For an adult, baptism (and confirmation) can feel like a powerful claim and a very public statement! Adults may need to be encouraged to take the step. They should be reassured that it's not on their own merit that they are worthy to join the church community, but on God's love and grace.
A Second Baptism?
In England, many adults have been baptised ('christened') as infants. It is part of the power of baptism that it is once only, and unrepeatable. At the moment of baptism God’s grace enters the person’s life and cannot be extinguished.
This can lead to frustration for an adult who was christened as an infant, but who has recently come to a living faith. Seeing themselves as a ‘new Christian’, they may long to make a clear, visible sign of their commitment. They may wish to demonstrate to their new community. And they may feel a desperate desire to feel the intervening years washed away.
Such adults may see the symbolic power of full-immersion baptism, perhaps admiring what is offered by other traditions, and wish to participate.
However, the Church of England has excellent resources to acknowledge this moment without duplicating baptism.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the most usual way of affirming faith in the Church of England. Confirmations in Lichfield Diocese are often organised annually on a deanery basis.
Pastoral Considerations:
- Confirmation can be framed as an affirmation of the person’s previous baptism, and perhaps a reminder that God has been present in a person’s life for many years, even if unnoticed.
- The confirmation service uses much of the language and many of the symbolic aspects of baptism. These connections can be emphasised to candidates who have asked for an adult baptism.
- Some aspects of confirmation liturgy, such as the laying on of hands by the bishop, and the sprinkling or self-signing with water, differ from baptism, are special in themselves, and carry their own distinct power: these can also be presented positively to the candidates.
- Confirmation offers the important recognition that a candidate is joining not just a local church but a much wider network of Christian life. Preparation for confirmation can be an opportunity to meet other Christians from nearby churches and to begin to learn about the shape and diversity of the Church of England.
- Candidates can occasionally feel frustrated by the lead-in time to Confirmation. However, that period can be an important period of spiritual preparation and discipleship. Candidates should be assured that they are fully accepted as part of the church community as they wait.
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
The Renewal of Baptismal Vows echoes much of the language and symbolism of a baptism. It can be presided over by a priest and does not require a bishop. It is set in a service of Holy Communion.
Pastoral considerations:
- Consider making time to addressing each candidate individually, by name, and asking for individual rather than collective responses.
- Consider allowing for a short testimony prepared in advance by each candidate
- If the symbolism of full immersion is desired, that can replace the signing/sprinkling
- Consider preaching on the infant baptism that the person did receive. God has been present in that person’s life, even in hidden ways, ever since then. It may also be appropriate to name the human love and faith that was present at that time around the small child and that led to the moment of baptism.
Confession
Confession of sin is an important pastoral ministry across all of the Church of England’s streams of tradition. It is available to anyone who worships and prays with us, baptised or not.
When someone urgently desires the symbolism of baptism, it may be wise to consider whether an individual is trying to put a complex history behind them, and how to make confession available to them in a meaningful way.
This should be considered sensitively and not in a hurried way. The welcome and acceptance of a joyful Chrisitan community, and the recognition of God’s grace, is a powerful gift at this time. The person may find that the spiritual work of confession and discernment unfolds in the security and love provided by the church, following baptism. Alternatively, they may find themselves wanting to do some of that spiritual work prior to confirmation if the opportunity is available.
Testimony
Testimony may be used as part of a formal service such as Confirmation or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows. Other opportunities for testimony may occur, formally or informally. Be aware that the individual may be feeling such a powerful sense of grace that they very much want to tell their story, and also to demonstrate and find their place in the community.
Consideration should be given to how to resource this. It is a good time for an individual to learn how they wish to tell their story succinctly and to discover how powerful that can be for others inside the church and even beyond it. Accompanying a person as they learn to tell their story can be a wonderful investment in true evangelism.
Full Immersion
Most Church of England Churches are not designed for full immersion baptism. However, temporary baptistries mean that full immersion baptism can still be provided if the church can manage it!