Confirmation in the Lutheran Church is a public profession of faith prepared for by long and careful instruction. In English, it is called "affirmation of baptism", and is a mature and public reaffirmation of the faith which "marks the completion of the congregation's program of confirmation ministry".[1]
A woodcut depicting the confirmation of Lutheran youth.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Confirmation is a public rite of the Church preceded by a period of instruction designed to help baptized Christians identify with the life and mission of the Christian community. Note: Prior to admission to the Eucharist, it is necessary to be instructed in the Christian faith (1 Cor. 11:28). The rite of confirmation provides an opportunity for the individual Christian, relying on God's promise given in Holy Baptism, to make a personal public confession of the faith and a lifelong pledge of fidelity to Christ.[2]
The Rite of Confirmation provides an opportunity for the individual Christian, relying on God's promise given in Baptism, to make a personal public profession of the faith and a lifelong pledge of faithfulness to Christ. Confirmation teaches baptized Christians, who wish to become Lutheran, Martin Luther's theology on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and the Eucharist.
Confirmation in Aholansaari outdoor church in Nilsiä, Kuopio
Similar to the Roman Catholic tradition, some Lutheran congregations instruct the very young (such as age 7) in understanding the Eucharist and then receive First Communion before beginning the Confirmation process several years later. (Other Lutheran congregations confirm children at about the 5th grade, or the 8th grade, if they are of the LCMS Lutheran synod, after which they make their first Holy Communion.) At the conclusion of this catechetical instruction, young persons traditionally make a public profession of their faith in a public ceremony. Students often begin taking catechism classes at about age twelve and are usually confirmed at age fourteen. Some Lutheran pastors and theologians are now beginning to ask whether it is permissible to adopt the practice of the Eastern church and to confirm/chrismate at baptism, including infants.
Lutherans do not accept the belief that only a bishop can confirm, as is the custom in the Anglican tradition. Even in countries where Lutherans claim to retain apostolic succession, such as Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden etc., a pastor is allowed to confirm.
confirmation, lutheran, church, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, confirmation, lutheran, church, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, febr. This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Confirmation Lutheran Church news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Confirmation in the Lutheran Church is a public profession of faith prepared for by long and careful instruction In English it is called affirmation of baptism and is a mature and public reaffirmation of the faith which marks the completion of the congregation s program of confirmation ministry 1 A woodcut depicting the confirmation of Lutheran youth Contents 1 Scriptural background 2 Description 3 Rite 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksScriptural background EditLutherans like Roman Catholics believe that Confirmation is based on Biblical precedents such as Acts of the Apostles 8 14 17 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God they sent them Peter and John who went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for it had not yet fallen upon any of them they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit Description EditAn Explanation of Luther s Small Catechism states Confirmation is a public rite of the Church preceded by a period of instruction designed to help baptized Christians identify with the life and mission of the Christian community Note Prior to admission to the Eucharist it is necessary to be instructed in the Christian faith 1 Cor 11 28 The rite of confirmation provides an opportunity for the individual Christian relying on God s promise given in Holy Baptism to make a personal public confession of the faith and a lifelong pledge of fidelity to Christ 2 Rite Edit A Lutheran confirmation service Temppeliaukio Church Helsinki The Rite of Confirmation provides an opportunity for the individual Christian relying on God s promise given in Baptism to make a personal public profession of the faith and a lifelong pledge of faithfulness to Christ Confirmation teaches baptized Christians who wish to become Lutheran Martin Luther s theology on the Ten Commandments the Apostles Creed the Lord s Prayer Baptism Confession and the Eucharist Confirmation in Aholansaari outdoor church in Nilsia Kuopio Similar to the Roman Catholic tradition some Lutheran congregations instruct the very young such as age 7 in understanding the Eucharist and then receive First Communion before beginning the Confirmation process several years later Other Lutheran congregations confirm children at about the 5th grade or the 8th grade if they are of the LCMS Lutheran synod after which they make their first Holy Communion At the conclusion of this catechetical instruction young persons traditionally make a public profession of their faith in a public ceremony Students often begin taking catechism classes at about age twelve and are usually confirmed at age fourteen Some Lutheran pastors and theologians are now beginning to ask whether it is permissible to adopt the practice of the Eastern church and to confirm chrismate at baptism including infants Lutherans do not accept the belief that only a bishop can confirm as is the custom in the Anglican tradition Even in countries where Lutherans claim to retain apostolic succession such as Denmark Estonia Finland Norway and Sweden etc a pastor is allowed to confirm See also Edit Christianity portalLutheran sacraments Confirmation Catholic Church References Edit Lutheran Book of Worship Ministers Desk Edition p 324 An Explanation of Luther s Small Catechism copyright 1991 Concordia Publishing House question 306 page 241 LCMS External links EditChristian Questions with Their Answers Archived 2011 09 27 at the Wayback Machine Book of Concord Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Confirmation Lutheran Church amp oldid 1151959827, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
