|
| by Charles Schwartz The following article can also be found at We’re giving out "F" grades for our confirmation ministry these days at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Clifton Park, New York, and here’s what people are saying:
How different these comments are from the ones we received just a few short years ago when we were grading ourselves with an "A". Our old attempts at creating a meaningful and exciting confirmation program deserved those "A" grades. They stood for average, acceptable and automatic. Students, advisors, teachers and the pastor participated out of a sense of duty and obligation. Our approach to this important and vital ministry of the congregation lacked enthusiasm and relevancy. On the other hand, the current program at Prince of Peace deserves an "F" for fundamental, faithful and fun. The change came when we turned things upside down and designed a new strategy that said we were going to apply two of our congregation’s overall operating principles in evaluating our confirmation ministry. Those are: 1. Welcoming all people, especially children and adolescents, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. 2. Understanding learning as a lifelong process to increase each person's confidence and joy in Jesus Christ through prayer, Bible study, and active service in our church, community and world. When we applied the values of our congregation to confirmation, the task before us became clear. We needed to develop a program that is In other words, we began to ask ourselves, "What ingredients are necessary for the program to be fundamental, faithful and fun?" First, we identified some of the fundamental faith questions of young adolescents:
We then created a diverse approach that would give the students an opportunity to struggle with the answers. There are three basic aspects to our two-year program. 1. Wednesday evenings provide the cornerstone on which the program is built. Students gather from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for community building, learning and fun. Evenings begin with prayer and a community dinner that is prepared by the parents (by volunteer signup and serving once per semester). Following dinner, an interactive fun activity is designed to build community, burn energy, stimulate creativity, and focus on the evening’s theme. Approximately 50 minutes of class time concludes the evening’s program. Class time is spent interactively, using video clips, role-playing, small discussion groups, and craft time. The program, divided into four semesters with themes and Scripture bases for each one is:
2. Sunday morning program involvement and service projects provide a second feature of the ministry. Each semester, students volunteer for various Sunday morning roles. These opportunities include service as acolyte/crucifer, Sunday school assistant, nursery care helper, sound technician, usher and greeter, etc.. Each student is expected to serve at least twice each month. In addition, the confirmands complete two sermon feedback forms each month. Other service opportunities are also offered, an example being to volunteer one morning at the local food bank. 3. Retreats and confirmation camp provide the program’s third foci. This includes two annual retreats and participation in a summer conference-wide confirmation camp. The camp experience focuses on the basics of the Catechism and gives students an opportunity to interact with other young people and leaders from the wider church. The annual winter retreat for both seventh and eighth grade students focuses on community building and self-identity issues. The weekend is titled Walkin’ in the Light, and is based on Matthew 5:16. The students' confirmation journey concludes with a retreat at the end of September. It is designed to review learning and prepare them for their confirmation on Reformation Sunday. At this retreat each student chooses a passage of Scripture and writes a personal promise. Both are shared during the Sunday morning worship. Each class also writes its own class creed, modeled on the Apostle's Creed. This project is designed to challenge the young people to express their understanding of the faith in their own words. The students create this faith statement without pastoral or adult advisor involvement unless requested. The results have been astonishing and evidence the effectiveness of the program. The class of 2000 recently wrote the following interpretation of the Second Article of the Creed: "We believe in Jesus Christ and that he died for our sins. We believe he went to hell and back for us. He is the everlasting light that banished the eternal darkness so that we could experience a closer relationship with God. He is the bringer of peace and the bearer of the crown of thorns. We understand and appreciate the sacrifice he made for us." We believe that this approach to confirmation ministry respects and values the individuality of our young people, gives them opportunities to struggle with fundamental faith questions and creates an environment where the Holy Spirit can bring joy and confidence to the experience." Sidebar: I'm part of a grand experiment whose prime objective was to transform a mind-numbing, sleep-inducing confirmation class into a totally cool, can't-wait-until-next-time program. I have to admit I was dubious. Giving up Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights and assorted weekends to hang out with veritable strangers wasn't exactly my idea of a good time. Week 1: Getting to know you. Boys standing on one side, girls standing on the other, and my twin brother and I huddled in the middle. Week 2: OK, now I have to eat dinner with these people? Our advisors sneakily set up a limited number of tables, forcing us to (gasp!) mingle. Week 3: Hmm…these people are pretty OK. Time passes... What began as a fragmented group of teenagers became a close-knit community. I have now been with this community for a little over two years, and as I look back, I see how much growth it has provided in me. This group has helped me overcome the many obstacles on the Road of Spirituality. We can cry, laugh, and pray together without fear of being rejected or ridiculed. I am part of an experiment--a guinea pig, if you will. And you know what? I
couldn't be prouder!
– Jennifer Loomis, Age 14 [ Up ] |
|
Last modified: 07/18/08Prince of Peace
Lutheran Church |
