What is Confirmation?
The word confirm means “to make stronger or more certain: to cause to believe more strongly.” In the act of confirmation, a young person is confirming or making his or her faith stronger.
Confirmation should be interactive, experiential, and fun! It needs to be a place where the young people can discover who Jesus is to them and what faith looks like in their lives. Parents/Guardians and mentors play a vital role. Both will help guide and lead students. Having parents/guardians who support them and a mentor who knows them will help them make the connection between faith and life during this confirmation journey.
The church’s attitude about confirmation has changed. There was a time when it seemed to be focused on getting members and checking confirmation off the “to do” list. Churches have realized we are confirming young people and then rarely seeing them again in the life of the church. Getting students through confirmation is not the goal. Keeping them engaged and growing in a faith that will stick is the challenge. How can we promote a young person’s desire to follow Jesus and remain a part of this person’s church community and the body of Christ for years to come? Confirmation should be the foundation to a lifetime of discipleship. There are many things we can do to make the process engaging including using interactive curriculum, partnering with parents, and connecting our students with church as a whole including through a mentor.
Not only do students need to know Christian theology, learn the nature of the church, and explore their faith commitments, but they also need to find ways to integrate all of it into their everyday lives. Our job is to help them discover who God is and grow to trust God with their lives. We need to communicate to students that while confirmation concludes with a ceremony where they publicly proclaim their faith, confirmation is only a step on their faith journey they will be on with God throughout their whole lives.
The word confirm means “to make stronger or more certain: to cause to believe more strongly.” In the act of confirmation, a young person is confirming or making his or her faith stronger.
Confirmation should be interactive, experiential, and fun! It needs to be a place where the young people can discover who Jesus is to them and what faith looks like in their lives. Parents/Guardians and mentors play a vital role. Both will help guide and lead students. Having parents/guardians who support them and a mentor who knows them will help them make the connection between faith and life during this confirmation journey.
The church’s attitude about confirmation has changed. There was a time when it seemed to be focused on getting members and checking confirmation off the “to do” list. Churches have realized we are confirming young people and then rarely seeing them again in the life of the church. Getting students through confirmation is not the goal. Keeping them engaged and growing in a faith that will stick is the challenge. How can we promote a young person’s desire to follow Jesus and remain a part of this person’s church community and the body of Christ for years to come? Confirmation should be the foundation to a lifetime of discipleship. There are many things we can do to make the process engaging including using interactive curriculum, partnering with parents, and connecting our students with church as a whole including through a mentor.
Not only do students need to know Christian theology, learn the nature of the church, and explore their faith commitments, but they also need to find ways to integrate all of it into their everyday lives. Our job is to help them discover who God is and grow to trust God with their lives. We need to communicate to students that while confirmation concludes with a ceremony where they publicly proclaim their faith, confirmation is only a step on their faith journey they will be on with God throughout their whole lives.
Confirmation and Baptism
Confirmation and baptism are inextricably connected. Many confirmands are baptized as babies or young children. In that ceremony, the community of faith claims for a child God’s promise of salvation, the child’s parents promise to raise their child in the Christian faith, and the congregation promises to support the parents and share in that responsibility. Each student baptized as a child who chooses to complete confirmation declares for herself or himself trust in Christ, thereby embracing God’s promise of salvation made in baptism. Confirmands who were not already baptized will be baptized as part of the Confirmation worship service. Fellow confirmands, families, and mentors will support the confirmand being baptized. The support by all involved demonstrates in a tangible way what it means to be the body of Christ.
Confirmation and baptism are inextricably connected. Many confirmands are baptized as babies or young children. In that ceremony, the community of faith claims for a child God’s promise of salvation, the child’s parents promise to raise their child in the Christian faith, and the congregation promises to support the parents and share in that responsibility. Each student baptized as a child who chooses to complete confirmation declares for herself or himself trust in Christ, thereby embracing God’s promise of salvation made in baptism. Confirmands who were not already baptized will be baptized as part of the Confirmation worship service. Fellow confirmands, families, and mentors will support the confirmand being baptized. The support by all involved demonstrates in a tangible way what it means to be the body of Christ.
Requirements and Expectations
- Confirmands must attend Confirmation Sessions and the Confirmation worship service. The Confirmation curriculum “Confirmation: The Story of God” includes 14 lessons. Students should not miss more than two Confirmation Sessions. Options for making up missed sessions may be offered if needed.
- Students will be provided a Confirmation Journal booklet & a new Student CEB Bible.
- Confirmands are expected to attend worship regularly. Confirmands need to be active in other areas of the church such as attending Sunday school or Connect Wednesday. Confirmation should not be isolated from the life of the church.
- Confirmands should share in mission/service when possible. Serving others is a way to teach the young people what it means to be a Christian. There are many service opportunities within the church and the community. Confirmands may partner with their mentor in a time of service.
- Confirmation Sunday is a requirement. See date on attached schedule. Typically we introduce confirmands at the close of the 8am sanctuary service so those worshippers can meet confirmands. Students may choose to take their confirmation vows and (if applicable) be baptized in the 9am or 11am service. All confirmands will join in both services so as to support one another. Confirmands, their families, and mentors will be invited to a 10am brunch reception.
- Other activities will be considered/included.
Parent/Guardian Involvement
- It is very important that parents/guardians are engaged with and supportive of Confirmation.
- Parents’/guardians’ lives of discipleship and engagement with church has an immeasurable impact on their child’s church experience and participation.
- Make sure the pastors/staff have your up-to-date email address on file.
- If you have not already, please text “JOIN” to 870.474.1812 to participate in the FUMC “TEXT-IN-CHURCH” system. We will use a parent/guardian text group through Texin-In-Church.
- Some Confirmation Sessions will include parent attendance/participation. See attached schedule.
- During Confirmation Sessions at which parents/guardians are *not* joining their students in class, parents/guardians will be invited to share in a conversation and reading group. The provided book is The Worry-Free Parent by Sissy Goff (BethanyHouse Publishing, 2023). Goff is a childrens and youth licensed counselor and therapist as well as author and speaker. She brings both a clinical and spiritual lens to her work. See attached schedule. Parents/Guardians may find other books by her or her business partner David Thomas helpful.
Confirmation Mentors
Mentors & Confirmands might discuss…
Creating a safe environment & Safe Gatherings training:
Mentors must be aware of the necessary processes and guidelines in place to create a safe environment for all parties. Safe Gatherings training is one way FUMC & the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church works toward maintaining a “safe place” for all to grow in faith and maturity. Prior to beginning mentor/mentee relationship, mentors must complete Safe Gatherings training including a current background check. The Safe Gatherings information and links are found at: fumcparagould.org/resources.html
Make sure and always meet with an individual young person in an open, public area where there are other people in line of sight. Never be alone in a building, home, car, or any private area with a young person. Never drive alone with a young person. Make sure confirmand’s parents/guardians are aware of mentor/mentee meetings/interactions.
While young people utilize technology as a primary source of communication, mentors should not communicate with students via text messages, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and so forth. Phone conversations via the parents/guardians phone number/line are fine.
Mentors should not engage in physical touch beyond high fives, fist bumps, handshakes and brief side-hugs and never without permission.
Mentors should not practice lengthy times of “counseling” confirmands. Young people who need counseling should be referred to someone who is a professional counselor, and the appropriate church staff should be consulted and notified.
Mentors are an example to the confirmand in every way. Mentors should be mindful of their behavior, language, body language, and social media. High standards should be followed not only inside the walls of the church but also in the community as well.
If a confirmand shares any physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect with a mentor, it must be reported to appropriate authorities and church pastors/staff.
Questions about mentoring can be referred to pastors.
- Must be an active member of FUMC Paragould and at least 21 years old.
- Confirmand & Parent/Guardian may choose their own mentor. Pastors/Staff can help choose a mentor. Please report your mentor to the Pastors ASAP.
- Is an adult Christian who is a spiritual friend and advisor to one or more confirmands.
- Comes alongside a confirmand as they explore their faith through the confirmation process. A mentor acts as a positive role model and shares his or her faith with the confirmand for the duration of the class.
- Prays continually for their confirmand.
- Relates to their confirmand in a caring, responsible way.
- Helps their confirmand apply the lessons taught in confirmation to their lives.
- Shares with their confirmand their own spiritual journey.
- Helps their confirmand discover the talents God has given them.
- Is a good friend and listener.
- Is able to demonstrate trustworthiness by being himself or herself and consistently modeling faith to the confirmand through actions and words. Passing on faith through a mentoring relationship is most effective when the confirmand observes the life of the mentor to be consistent with what he or she professes to believe.
- Is a mature Christian who is willing and able to talk to a student about the mentor’s experience of God.
- Is expected to attend specific Confirmation Sessions (dates TBD) and Confirmation Worship Service & Brunch (April 6, 2025).
- Will be encouraged to get to know their confirmand outside of required Confirmation Sessions in a safe in appropriate way with parent/guardian permission. Confirmands & mentors could share in church activities including ushering, coffee & doughnuts, choir, greeting, Connect Wednesday, worship services, special activities/ministries, outreach/service opportunities. Mentors might consider volunteering to help with 5th/6th grade ministries/activities such as Sunday School or Connect Wednesday.
Mentors & Confirmands might discuss…
- Who God is for you?
- What is prayer? Why do we pray? How do we pray?
- What their confirmand is studying in class and their understanding of it.
- Last week’s sermon.
- What is the confirmand’s favorite (least favorite) part of confirmation?
- What is the confirmand confused about? What would they like to know more about?
- Getting to know one another.
- Mutual interests (sports, music, etc.).
- Your families (parents, brothers, sisters, etc.).
- Your church background.
- Read and discuss a story about Jesus together.
- Talk about what confirmation means.
Creating a safe environment & Safe Gatherings training:
Mentors must be aware of the necessary processes and guidelines in place to create a safe environment for all parties. Safe Gatherings training is one way FUMC & the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church works toward maintaining a “safe place” for all to grow in faith and maturity. Prior to beginning mentor/mentee relationship, mentors must complete Safe Gatherings training including a current background check. The Safe Gatherings information and links are found at: fumcparagould.org/resources.html
Make sure and always meet with an individual young person in an open, public area where there are other people in line of sight. Never be alone in a building, home, car, or any private area with a young person. Never drive alone with a young person. Make sure confirmand’s parents/guardians are aware of mentor/mentee meetings/interactions.
While young people utilize technology as a primary source of communication, mentors should not communicate with students via text messages, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and so forth. Phone conversations via the parents/guardians phone number/line are fine.
Mentors should not engage in physical touch beyond high fives, fist bumps, handshakes and brief side-hugs and never without permission.
Mentors should not practice lengthy times of “counseling” confirmands. Young people who need counseling should be referred to someone who is a professional counselor, and the appropriate church staff should be consulted and notified.
Mentors are an example to the confirmand in every way. Mentors should be mindful of their behavior, language, body language, and social media. High standards should be followed not only inside the walls of the church but also in the community as well.
If a confirmand shares any physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect with a mentor, it must be reported to appropriate authorities and church pastors/staff.
Questions about mentoring can be referred to pastors.
- Confirmation Sessions will typically meet in the Community Room.
- Parent/Guardian group will typically meet in the Pairs & Spares Classroom (Welcome Center).
- Dates/times are subject to change due to weather, illness, conflicts, etc. in which case sessions will be rescheduled ASAP.
