The Rite of

Having acknowledged his or her need for God’s empowerment to live out Christian maturity, there comes a time in the life of a believer when he or she desires to reaffirm and renew the baptismal faith commitment to and His disciples; furthermore, to awaken the strengthening gifts of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

When a believer is baptized as an infant, this commitment is made by parents and godparents who promise to guard and nurture the faith of the child until he or she is able to claim it as their own. Others are baptized at an age of accountability or come to faith later in life. The public witness of one’s ongoing commitment to the promises of their is made in front of the Body of Christ, known as the Church. For this reason, the Church offers what is commonly called the Rite of Confirmation.

As Reformed Christians, Anglicans believe that in our baptism we have received the spiritual seal of the Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of godly discernment and courage; the spirit of knowledge and revelation; and, the spirit of holy fear in God's presence. We are to guard what we have received. God the Father has marked us with His sign; Christ the Lord has confirmed us; and, He has placed His pledge, the Spirit, in our hearts. (Ephesians 2:13,14,17,18,19; Romans 4:11; Romans 8:14-17; Colossians 2:11,12) In Confirmation, Anglicanism requires a public and personal profession of that baptismal faith from every adult believer in Jesus Christ. Confirmation, derived from the Latin word confirmare-to strengthen, acknowledges we believe the Holy Spirit

empowers the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4:10- 11; 1 Corinthians 12:7) and is best described by some as a form of Lay Ordination. Confirmation gives any Christian the opportunity to receive the laying on of hands of a successor of the Apostles, a bishop, and to thus connect the believer with the Apostles and Christ Himself. Though it is not necessary for salvation*, this unity is something we don’t experience any other way. Indeed, Confirmation is evident in the Scriptures: the Apostles prayed for, and laid their hands on those who had already been baptized to strengthen and equip them for their ministry in the Kingdom of God. (2 Timothy 1:6-7; Acts 8:14-17; 19:6). Likewise, bishops now do the same for those seeking public profession of their faith and the strengthening of their Christian ministry through the laying on of hands. (1 Timothy 3)

With it, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

 it roots us more deeply in the personal relationship which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15)

 it unites us more firmly to Christ;

 it strengthens and increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;

 it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;

 it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and to never be ashamed of the Cross.

Perhaps you are at a place in your faith where you discern you yourself are to make this public reaffirmation and to receive the laying on of hands from your bishop. If so, please contact me or one of the clergy of the parish to discuss.

*The Anglican Church believes that the are “sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God’s good will toward us, by the which He doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in Him.” (The Articles of Religion). Anglicans regard the two Gospel Sacraments of Baptism and the as being “generally necessary to salvation.”