The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Formation and Education for Ministry presented its Report #23 on Resolution A080 (Affirm Confirmation as Formation) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A080)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, recognizing that confirmation offers a distinct and valuable opportunity for Christian formation, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $43,500 to the Office of Formation and Congregational Development to convene representatives from 10 dioceses, including a bishop and two appointed leaders, to engage in intentional conversation with the goal of strengthening and articulating best practices around confirmation; and be it further

Resolved, That these gatherings address the significance of confirmation as a creative opportunity for the reaffirmation of baptismal vows in the life of The Episcopal Church and report back to the 79th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That all dioceses engage in similar conversations on confirmation with attention to diverse cultures and their contexts, and report back to the Office of Formation and Congregational Development on their findings.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, recognizing that confirmation offers a distinct and valuable opportunity for Christian formation, Tthat the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $43,500 to the Office of Formation and Congregational Development to convene representatives from 10 dioceses, including a bishop and two appointed leaders, to engage in intentional conversation about creating intergenerational and congregation-wide processes to equip people (teenagers and older) to claim their baptismal identity and be commissioned for ministry with the goal of strengthening and articulating best practices around confirmation; and be it further

Resolved, That these gatherings address the significance of confirmation as a creative opportunity for the reaffirmation of baptismal vows in the life of The Episcopal Church, and that confirmation produces confident baptized Christians and vital congregations report back to the 79th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That all dioceses engage in similar conversations on confirmation with attention to diverse cultures and their contexts, and report back to the Office of Formation and Congregational Development and the 79th General Convention on their findings.; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance consider a budget allocation of $43,500 for the implementation of this resolution.

Year 1-2 ($3000)

Office of Formation and Congregational Development convene (virtually) a representative Confirmation Project Advisory Team to design a structured data-collection process to “tell the story” of confirmation as it is currently practiced in a diocese, and to develop an Episcopal Confirmation Project website to curate existing resources on confirmation.

End of Year 2 – Year 3 ($39,500)

Office of Formation and Congregational Development convene a gathered “laboratory” of 10 Dioceses and Advisory Team to facilitate a process which includes diocesan confirmation story sharing, engaging with expertise of Advisory Team, and structured dialogue.

Year 3 ($1000 – contract with author, web management)

Advisory Team prepares report on the significance of confirmation as Christian formation for the 79th General Convention including resolutions and disseminates the report to all participating dioceses.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #70)