Ship of Fools: Confirmation curriculum

Thread: Confirmation curriculum Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Joshua Bell (# 16323) on :

When I was confirmed in 2008, my classes were very basic and I learnt next to nothing from them. I sat in on my current church's classes last year and was thoroughly enthused by them - they were very different and much better.

Of course part of this depends on confirmands' experience of Christianity and preexisting knowledge, but having heard the same thing from many people, I now wonder whether a standard curriculum, or curricula (since someone who is being confirmed as a matter of course after many years of faith will likely be requiring more depth than a new believer), is a potential solution.

[Clarification: For context, I'm coming from a Church of England perspective]

Posted by Percy B (# 17238) on :

Part of the issue is that churches of the Church of England view Confirmation differently. For some it is a teaching opportunity to do with 10year olds. For others it is a necessary thing to do to admit to Communion, if that is still their way in that particular church, which may just be about a lesson or meeting or two.

And then there are adults... With different needs.

Of course different people, different needs, can be taught from one curriculum- but then I wonder if it is about 'teaching'? I prefer a 'course' which draws people more into the fellowship of the Church in which, one hopes, teaching is going on continuously...

Having said all of which the old catechism was a curriculum. I believe it is available in a revised form, although not found in Common Worship. Perhaps it's online. It could provide the starting point for a curriculum.

Posted by Oferyas (# 14031) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Joshua Bell:

Of course part of this depends on confirmands' experience of Christianity and preexisting knowledge,...

I've always felt this was the important caveat - that if the whole educational ministry of the church is working properly, then there is almost nothing specific in the way of catechesis that attaches to the Rite of Confirmation.

That is the ideal - in reality I've found myself with groups who have less and less useful prior knowledge of Christian teaching or religious practice. My practice has been to get a group of adults together and form them into a housegroup (with the hope that they should continue as a housegroup after Confirmation). (I haven't presented juvenile candidates for about 15 years.) We've decided who has the biggest childcare problem and simply made that home our venue, with members taking it in turn to provide the necessary alcohol each week.

I've worked on a programme lasting the inside of a year, with three elements to the preparation. First is working through/round the Revised Catechism as a framework. Second is to devote half an hour each session to reading a Gospel together (usually Mark), to explore the life and ministry of Jesus. Third is establishing good habits in terms of weekly worship etc.

The teaching model is a kind of free-booting theological brawl in which anybody can ask or voice anything and be treated with respect. I've always found these groups exciting - I believe some have found them life-changing.

[ 10. March 2013, 09:27: Message edited by: Oferyas ]

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