Confirmation and Reception
Confirmation is an opportunity to make “mature affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 412), and through the laying on of hands by a bishop to embrace the presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life to guide, comfort, and empower us for the life of Christian service. People may be confirmed either as young adults or mature adults. The only requirements are that you have been baptized and desire to follow Christ in an intentional way.
In The Episcopal Church, 16 is the age of adult membership (allowing, for instance, that people 16 and older can vote in the Annual Parish Meeting and serve on the Vestry). As a smaller congregation, St. Mary's may not have a group of young adults preparing for Confirmation every year. Contact Mother Allison to learn more about Confirmation preparation.
Adults may be confirmed at any age. Some may not have had the opportunity or inclination in their youth. Others may be new to the Christian faith or the Episcopal Church. People who were previously baptized and confirmed in other Christian Churches need not be confirmed again in order to be fully recognized in the Episcopal Church. They may instead be "Received" into the Episcopal Church by prayer and the laying on of hands by the bishop. Please speak to Mother Allison if you would like to consider being confirmed or received.
