Confirmation ClassThe Rev. Diana L. Wilcox

Spring/Summer 2021

So, You Want To Be Confirmed?

• What we will cover• What is Confirmation & Reception• History & Polity• Episcopal Theology & Beliefs• Decision Time & What To Expect

What is Confirmation?

One of the seven sacraments of the church. A sacramentis the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritualgrace.

The two great sacraments are?

The others are?

What is Confirmation?

“It is expected that all adult members of this Church, after

appropriate instruction, will have made a mature publicaffirmation of their faith and commitment to theresponsibilities of their Baptism and will have been

confirmed or received by the laying on of hands by aBishop of this Church or by a Bishop of a Church in fullcommunion with this Church. Those who have previouslymade a mature public commitment in another Church may

be received by the laying on of hands by a Bishop of thisChurch, rather than confirmed.” Canon I.17.1 (c)

Confirmed or Received or Reaffirmation?

Confirmed if not yet confirmed in a faiththat practices apostolic succession, receivedif so, and reaffirmation is for anyone alreadyconfirmed and desiring to reaffirm theircommitment to their baptismal covenant.

What is Apostolic Succession?

“The belief that the church today is in direct continuitywith the church of the apostles and is thus part of “one,holy, catholic, and apostolic church.” For Anglicans,apostolic succession is symbolized by the rites ofordination and consecration, in which bishops, priests, anddeacons, are ordained through the laying on of hands by abishop who is in theory linked in an unbroken chain backto the apostles themselves.”

A Dictionary For Episcopalians p.10

Polity

• What we will cover• Anglican Communion• TEC, Provinces, Dioceses, Parishes• General Convention• Diocesan Convention• Governing Bodies – TEC, Diocese,

Parishes

Polity

• Polity – from several ancient languages for politica, polis, people meaning how something is governed

• Episcopal Church Polity is modeled on that of the United States Government because it was authored by many of the same people• House of Bishops, House of

Deputies, Provinces• Dioceses• Parishes

Interesting Things To Know1. All parish property does not

belong to the parish, but is held in trust for the diocese.

2. Rectors cannot be fired for poor performance

3. Rectors have absolute control over all of the liturgy… the music

4. Wardens were called that because they actually had the keys to the Vestry (which was a room, not a group)

History & Future

• What we will cover• Reformation• Church of England• Via Media• Anglican Theology

Seminary In Three Minutes... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4TeJJmQJqU

From Castle Doors To English Thrones• Many voices prior, but Luther, with help from Guttenberg Press

spread

• Zwingli, Calvin, Knox and loads of others• Church & State were one and the same

• The foundation of most issues was primacy of scripture to determine all other tenets of faith including:• Eucharistic theology, church furnishings/vestments, celibacy

• Also part of it was power, politics, economics• It is never ending

I’m Henry The 8th I Am...• Henry VIII (yup – THAT guy) marries his 1st of 8,

Catherine of Aragon, and she gives birth to children who died in infancy, and finally one that lived - Mary

• Henry VIII wants an annulment from Catherine (and also a bit more power and money to his coffers, not The Vatican’s)• Probably not a good idea given that

Catherine’s nephew was King Charles V• Annulment not granted – Catherine sent

packing anyway, and in moves Anne Bolyn, who bore another girl - Elizabeth

• The Archbishop of Canterbury Warham dies and Thomas Cranmer (yup – THAT guy) took on the role – the stage is set

Bloody Mary – It’s Not Just A Drink

• Mary was—excluding the brief, disputed reigns of the Empress Matilda and Lady Jane Grey

• Rebellion against her marriage to Philip of Spain (totally RC) got her half-sister Elizabeth arrested (though not proven if she was involved) –imprisoned in Tower of London, later house arrest

• Returned England to Roman Catholicism and increase Papal control

• Executed (by burning at the stake) 300 protestants (give or take a few)

• Died Nov. 17, 1558

The Virgin Queen (hint: she wasn’t named Mary)

• Became Queen 1558 (coronation 1559)• Only 3rd Queen Regent

• Oath of Supremacy – all must pledge allegiance to her as head of both church and state• “Supreme Governor” of the church rather than “Supreme

Head” (appeased men who had issue with woman as head of the church)

• New Episcopate (because most of them resigned in protest)

• “There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles.”

• “I have no desire to make windows into mens souls”

Via Media

• Second Act of Uniformity – Restored BCP

• Reinstated Articles of Religion (was 42 under Cranmer, now 39) - 1563• The articles repudiate Catholic beliefs such as

transubstantiation and the sacrifice of the Mass, and affirm the supremacy of scripture

• They allow clergy to marry, and affirm the right of the monarch to influence church policy, and insist that English is the language of worship

• Est. the Church of England as the Via Media – the middle way

They Might Have Luther, But We Have A Hooker!

• Born 1553, Ordained 1581

• Wrote Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity in defense against Puritan objecitions to the Reformation Settlement of QEI (Acts of Supremacy, etc.)• “ Aristotelian, with a strong emphasis upon natural law

eternally planted by God in creation. On this foundation, all positive laws of Church and State are grounded—from Scriptural revelation, ancient tradition, reason, and experience.” (Holy Women, Holy Men)• The Three-Legged Stool of Anglicanism

• Defended the BCP

“I’ll Take Bible Study for $500, Alex.”

• What we will cover• What the heck is a canon?• Exegesis vs. Eisegesis• Translations• Why is it important to ”read, mark,

and inwardly digest” the Word?

Studying The Bible• Everything is a copy – a translation of a

translation of a translation• Various translations are closer to

original Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic than others

• Exegesis vs. Eisegesis

• There are other books not in our canon

• Not meant to be taken literally – that was not the tradition of the Jewish people who wrote it all

Our Canon

• Early Christianity produced an abundance of gospels, letters, narratives about the apostles, and apocalypses (from Ancient Greek: ἀποκάλυψις apocálypsis, from ἀπό and καλύπτω meaning 'un-covering'). From the Gospel of Matthew to the Gospel of Mary, from the Acts of the Apostles to the Acts of Andrew, from the Apocalypse of John to the Apocalypse of Peter.

• Current canon of Christian texts (Latin canon from Greek κανών "measuring rod, standard") not the result of a church council, but a more organic and long process. The earliest known attempt to draw up a canon was by Marcion in the mid-2nd century.

How Did We Get Here?

• Our present canon of 27 texts, commonly called the “New Testament” did not appear until 367 in an Easter letter by Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria. Even then, it wasn’t until the translation known as the Vulgate - a Latin translation by Jerome, of the Hebrew and Greek texts in the 4th century that the borders of what we call the Holy Bible became set.

• The criteria in the early debates about “canonicity” included apostolic authorship, relevance to the universal Church, doctrinal orthodoxy, and traditional usage (had it been employed from early times and in most churches). Oddly enough, inspiration did not tend to feature as a criterion, contrary to modern Christians think, divine inspiration was then regarded as a property of the Church as a whole rather than of individual authors.

Everything We Read Is A Translation...

• ...of a translation!• Even the Ryland Papyrus 52 (pictured left)

- the oldest existing scripture text to be discovered, is a copy of an original.

• No original texts of any Christian scripture has been located.

• The earliest New Testament writings were the letters of Paul - the “authentic” Pauline epistles were written between approximately 50-58 CE. The earliest being 1 Thessalonians, which predates the earliest gospel, Mark, by 20 years.

So What Does That Mean?

• That the bible was something that evolved over time.• That there were “winners” and “losers” in the decisions. Gnostics and

Women - big losers.• That there were other texts that were not included.• That perhaps more can and should be written.• That there are likely more texts that are yet to be discovered.• That we have copies - made by hand. So, we have to use scholarly

tools to help us understand who wrote what and when.

So, You Want To Be Confirmed Or Received?

• What we will cover• What is confirmation & reception?• What is expected of you?• What is expected of your sponsor?• What will happen at the service?

What Is Confirmation?

• “In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.” BCP p. 412

• Confirmation or Reception?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL13TTsUJ_4

What Is Expected Of

You?

Prayerfully discern and be open to where the Holy Spirit guides you in this decision about confirmation

Read the catechism of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP 845-862)

Attend Confirmation Classes

Once confirmed, step into your role as members of the Body of Christ

What Is Expected Of

Your Sponsor?

Pray for you

Talk about why they were confirmed, and about their faith

Stand with you at the service

Stay connected to you in your life in Christ

What Will Happen At The Service?

• During the service, you will be asked:• Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil?• Do you renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?• Then you, as well as all attending, will be asked to renew your baptismal covenant:

• Do you believe in God the Father?• Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?• Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?• Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the

prayers?• Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?• Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?• Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?• Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human

being?