Youth Catechesis and Confirmation
Parents and sponsors of a baptized child bear the responsibility of teaching their child God's Word so that the child's faith may remain alive and grow (Matthew 28:18-20). The use of Luther's Small Catechism is fundamental to this teaching.
Pastor Young catechizes (teaches) the basics of the faith in a supplementary fashion to students beginning around 7th grade, culminating in confirmation.
Confirmation is a time-honored church tradition (not required by God's Word, but we believe useful nonetheless) in which the child baptized as an infant is given the opportunity to confess for himself or herself the faith that he or she was unable to confess as an infant.
Faith is not “created” at confirmation, but it is rather confessed for all to hear so that the church can join and rejoice in this public confession, which has its roots in the faith which God Himself created in Baptism.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt 28:18-20”
