5-11 | Holy Communion

Confirmation

It is hoped that Confirmation is a very poignant time in a persons life when they publically declare their faith, take on their baptismal promises for themselves and commit to a life of being a disciple of Jesus. Various scholars have researched spirituality and the developmental stages. Perhaps one of the best known researchers in the arena of Young Peoples spiritual development is Westerhoffs which states that there are four stages of faith development:

Stage One - Experienced Faith (Pre-School and Childhood)

This is the stage where the child is discovering and experiencing faith. They will test, explore and react to all thats going on around them and tend to copy the ways of others.

Stage Two - Affliative Faith (Adolescence)

Here Westerhoff suggests that the development of our faith is influenced by those people who journey with us. There is a strong sense of belonging to a group and being with others who are exploring similar faith journeys, as well as being positively affected by those who are part of their wider faith community (church).

Stage Three - Searching Faith (Late Adolescence)

Westerhoff suggests that this is the stage where older young people might begin to question and doubt all that they have learnt and explored about faith. Its a stage where they might explore other spiritualties and phenomena, but also a stage where they explore their faith more deeply and different ways in which they could express their faith.

Stage Four - Owned Faith (Adults)

Here the person has worked through the other existing stages of faith and now has their own.They are characterised by what they believe and readily look for ways to witness as a way of responding to their owned faith.

(Reconnecting with Confirmation, pp58-64)

These are useful stages to consider when posing the question What is the right age for Confirmation? It needs to be noted at this point that although there are age groups associated with each stage, these should be used merely as a guideline for development bearing in mind that there are some adults who are at the start of their spiritual journey and remain in Stage One and there are some children who are so sure of their own faith and spirituality that they are actively sharing the gospel with their peers and teaching their adult leaders. For the purpose of confirmation the Four Stages described are useful when looking at our current practice. Across the diocese we are generally confirming our children at Stage 2 (Affiliative Faith) of their spiritual development- where they are imitating what their peers are doing and many admit to being prepared for confirmation because it is what their friends are doing or because it was what their parents and grandparents did when they were that age. What is the purpose of confirmation? According to the Church of England Our Faith web site,

Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which you affirm for yourself the faith into which you have been baptised and your intention to live a life of committed discipleship

It is important to share and learn from examples of good practice, but it is also of vital importance to engage our young people in this conversation to find out from them what it is that they want, how they want it to run, as well as what it is that they need. Our young people are the church of today, often with responsibilities of leading our younger children, leading in Messy Churches as well as being significant members of the worship group or choir. Lets ensure that they are empowered and listened to when it comes to how they need to be discipled.

Below are some resources to consider when preparing young people for Confirmation

LINK TO RESOURCE PAGE