Confirmation as Baptismal Renewal for Discipleship
It has been estimated that at least 50% of those confirmed drop out of active church membership. Reviewing the history of confirmation and the faith development of adolescents, as well as their cognitive, emotional, and physical growth stages, can perhaps inform our understanding of how we can develop a better model of youth preparation. Hear the findings of The Confirmation Project and how our churches can tap into the data, moving from a “rite of passage” to a piece of one’s lifelong faith journey. Share your best practices and struggles as we talk about a strategy to tap into confirmation as a new opportunity to engage youth (and their parents).
Audience: Youth Ministries
Presenter:
Sharon Ely Pearson
Author and Editor
Sharon Ely Pearson is a Christian educator, editor, and author with 35+ years of experience in Christian formation on the local, judicatory, and church-wide level. Known for her knowledge of published curricula across the Church, she has written or edited numerous books, including the Faithful Celebrations series; Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People (with Jenifer Gamber); The Episcopal Christian Educator’s Handbook; and Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Theologies of Confirmation for the 21st Century. She is a graduate of Virginia Theological Seminar and a lifelong Episcopalian. You can follow here at www.rowsofsharon.com.
