Confirmation?

I was told by a reverend that they were sure if Jesus was still around he wouldn’t ask for a certificate, he would bless and accept you unconditionally.

I've always believed that He knows what is in everyone's heart. Even as a child I remember the minister saying the words "this is not our table but the Lord's".

It is not up to us to "police" whether anyone is "entitled" to partake in communion.

It is surely necessary for any church to keep bums on seats. Confirmation is a ritual that tends to confirm that the attendee will continue in the faith.

It's like how a wedding with the trimmings is a ritual that it is hoped will cement the marriage.

My dad once told me, aged sixteen, that going to mass wearing a gipsy blouse I'd made was not proper. By modern standards, it was very modest as to coverage.

I replied that if God could see the state of my soul then He wouldn't care what I was wearing because it was irrelevant and that, therefore, my dad's concern was about what other people would think rather than any offence to God.

Dad said no more on the subject and, looking around, it was obvious other people came to church in what they judged to be their best clothes.

The conventions about confirmation and communion were changed relatively recently. Being confirmed, as I understand it, confirms a person in their faith. Sharing the Last Supper should, I suppose, be inclusive and anyone at the service should be allowed to join in.

That said, I do find it a bit strange after so many years of needing to be confirmed to take communion, and it would seem to make the idea of confirmation largely redundant.

I was confirmed aged nine. I have no faith. So, clearly, my confirmation was meaningless.

In my mid-teen days, confirmation classes were something to do and somewhere to meet a few schoolfriends on otherwise terminally boring Sundays when just about everything was closed. IIRC the class was followed almost immediately by
(C of E) Evensong.

AFAIK my parents were believers but we’d never been a churchgoing family.

I have been confirmed and wouldn’t feel entitled to partake in Holy Communion if I hadn’t.

Same here Baggs. I think I was a bit older though, maybe 13. Only went to Church after that with my Gran. She loved Evensong and I was despatched to make sure she got there and back safely. I have no faith.

I think it’s wonderful for the church to offer Communion to all. I went to a Christening in a C of E church once and they offered it to everyone. Some of the RC family members were shocked and stood there looking very disapproving. Surely a Christian church should be inclusive? Each individual can decide what he/ she wants to do.

Things have moved on regarding communion obviously.

It seems strange then that to be a Churchwarden, a voluntary job I don’t imagine people are queueing up to do, you have to be ‘sworn in’ at an Archdeacon’s Visitation Service, on an annual basis. I think it’s a legal requirement, but yet another pointless exercise nowadays, or so it seems to me.

Churchwardens are required to swear an oath in front of the congregation of the church they will serve. It doesn't have to be done at an Archdeacon's Visitation Service.

Having been confirmed as a requirement to take Holy Communion hasn't been a requirement for some time. We still have people of all ages attending confirmation classes if they wish to do so.

I am a former Catholic who now attends a C of E church where I can take communion because I was baptised albeit in a Catholic church. On the other hand the Catholic church does not allow Christians other than Catholics to take communion in their churches, including my Vicar!

At the Last Supper Jesus said "Do this in remembrance of me".
No mention of confirmation.

Correct. People go to class, are confirmed before first communion. Non-confirmed keep their arms at their sides, receive a blessing.

no,i thought about being confirmed in c of e ,even had a chat about it with the vicar.i decided not to as my faith waxes and wains, i fully take part in the service, I'm generally accepted by the congregation, i would say it is down to me whether i get confirmed ,as said ,would jesus be bothered if i did or didn't?

Germanshepherdsmum

I have been confirmed and wouldn’t feel entitled to partake in Holy Communion if I hadn’t.

I was confirmed, but I wouldn't feel entitled to partake in Holy Communion because I have no Faith. It would be wholly disrespectful.

I was confirmed at 16- in the Catholic Church, children are confirmed much much younger still- and do not have a clue! It is a cultural expectation, very little to do with religion. Sadly, much the same thing for most Christenings- cultural, and phto opportunity.

As an humanist without faith, I think I have more respect for truly religious people with a real faith, than many so called 'cultural' Christians who (mis) used the Church for social occasions.

Smileless - here the churchwardens are expected to be "sworn in" at the Archdeacon's visitation. If they can't get to any of the venues then they have to be admitted to office by the Area Dean. No swearing-in in front of the congregation.

so... what about weddings/marriage then? this morning the banns were read for the first time, for someone, and strangely I took in the wording, and wondered how strange it is now... and we won`t get on to,,,is it LGBT? or something like that?

Septimia.

Same here, and we are reminded that if you don’t attend the Visitation Service, you will not be allowed to act as a churchwarden.

Strange, as it’s a pretty thankless task, voluntary, very few takers, wouldn’t think nowadays they can be so strict.

Depends on which diocese you come under, I assume.

I made my First Communion in the Catholic faith at the age of 6 and because theBishop was doing the rounds in our rural parish the next year and they wanted to boost numbers I was confirmed at the age of 7 years! Ridiculous. I went to Catholic primary and secondary schools and was never really taught about the Catholic religion but learned about all the other religions despite being taught by nuns. Strange.

Judy54

I am a former Catholic who now attends a C of E church where I can take communion because I was baptised albeit in a Catholic church. On the other hand the Catholic church does not allow Christians other than Catholics to take communion in their churches, including my Vicar!

How would they know what denomination of Christian someone was if it wasn't mentioned?

I guess your parish priest might know the vicar and some of his/her congregation, but apart from that....??

Although a confirmed Catholic, I do not go to Confession, although I do receive communion. I have convinced myself, that I can ask God directly, to forgive my indiscretions. Yes, it’s quite humbling to ‘confess’ to another human being, but my sins are between God and me…