New Beginnings

This weekend we’re blessed to have our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Keith Andrews, with us. He’ll be at both services on Sunday morning, and he’ll share a bit about life in the diocese and in the ACNA during the adult education hour.

At the 8:45 service several people will be confirmed or received, and a couple of people will reaffirm their faith. Per our congregational bylaws, in order to become a member of Christ Church one needs to go through our new members / confirmation / catechesis class, and then be confirmed or received, or reaffirm their faith, in the presence of a bishop.

Many of our newer members haven’t been confirmed, but, for those who have, the bishop will simply “receive” that person into the Anglican “branch” of the global, historic church. For those new members who have been confirmed or received as Anglicans, a public reaffirmation of faith is an appropriate “new beginning” in the life of our congregation.

We require this for a couple of reasons. First, going through the new members’ class (usually five or six two-hour sessions) allows all of our members to learn the basics of Christian faith, and specifically Anglican history and liturgy, as well as tools for discipleship. Second, the new members’ class allows those who attend to build relationships. As our congregation grows, it is important that new people have the opportunity to learn and grow with a smaller group of people so that there will be familiar faces on Sunday mornings, and more opportunities to get involved at Christ Church. Finally, when the bishop, who serves as a symbol of the global, historic church, is present, new members aren’t only publicly welcomed into our local congregation, but into the Anglican Communion.

In addition to the physical welcoming into our congregation / Communion, I believe that there is a profound spiritual dimension to confirmation / reception / reaffirmation. In the book of Acts, the apostles would often lay hands on believers in order to impart spiritual gifts and commission for ministry (cf. Acts 6:6, 8:17,13:3, and 19:6), and Paul reminds Timothy of the gifts given to him through the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6). My prayer is that each person who is confirmed, received, or reaffirms his or her faith will receive a fresh outpouring of the Spirit, nourished and empowered for a new season of life in Christ, and that we who witness these gifts might be drawn nearer to God’s heart as well.