ORDER OF SERVICE

for the Reception of Baptized Persons

into the Full Membership of the Church

commonly called

CONFIRMATION

AUTHORIZED FOR OPTIONAL USE IN
THE CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA
IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 5, CHAPTER X, OF THE CONSTITUTION
AND WITH
RESOLUTION 44 OF THE SYNOD, JANUARY 1950

Published for the Church of South India by the
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 
 

PRINTED IN INDIA
AT THE DIOCESAN PRESS, MADRAS, AND PUBLISHED BY GEOFFREY CUMBERLEGE, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, MADRAS
 

FOREWORD

This service has a threefold purpose:
    1. The personal acceptance by the candidate of God’s promises, and his personal dedication of himself to Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
    2. Prayer that God may increase in the candidate the gift of his Holy Spirit, by whom he makes us his own unto the day of redemption and empowers us for the life in Christ.
    3. The reception of the candidate by the congregation into the full fellowship of the Church, including especially the fellowship of the Lord’s Table.
    The three elements in this purpose should be regarded as inseparable.
    Confirmation may be administered, under the Constitution of the Church of South India, by the Bishop, or, in places where this has been the custom, by the presbyter. If a presbyter conducts the service, it is most desirable that he shall be a presbyter appointed by the Bishop, or the presbyter responsible for that congregation.
    The candidates shall have undergone a course of instruction by the presbyter of their church, or other person appointed by him, to ensure that. they have a clear understanding of the essentials of Christian discipleship, and that they are ready to surrender themselves fully to Christ and his service.
    Before the service, the Bishop, if he is the Minister, may meet the candidates for such examination as he considers desirable.
    A membership card shall be prepared beforehand for each candidate, containing his or her name, together with the date and place of confirmation and the Minister’s signature.
 

THE ORDER OF SERVICE

The candidates shall be seated together in front of the congregation, facing the Minister.
    At the beginning of the service a hymn or lyric of praise may be sung, and prayer may be offered.

INTRODUCTION
[The Alternative Introduction may be used instead.]

    The Minister or some other person shall address the candidates and congregation as follows, all save himself remaining seated:

Dearly beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ, before he ascended into heaven, promised to his disciples that they should receive power, when the Holy Spirit was come upon them, and charged them that they should be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. So, after he had ascended, they returned to Jerusalem and continued stedfastly in prayer.
    And on the day of Pentecost, when they were all together in one place, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and from that day forth they proclaimed the Word of God with power, and witnessed to the resurrection of Christ.
    Later, those who had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus received this same gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by the apostles, with prayer. For we read, in the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles: ‘Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.’
    The Scripture here teaches that a special gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed through the laying on of hands with prayer. The power of this Spirit we see in the lives of the apostles themselves. They who had followed only where they saw their Lord go, now went forth themselves to preach and to baptize. They who had waited for him to restore the kingdom to Israel were now themselves the witnesses of the Kingdom of God unto the uttermost parts of the earth. They who had known him to be with them only when they could see him, now knew that, as they went forth to do his will, he was with them in all places and at all times, even unto the end of the world. Thus was the promise fulfilled that they should receive his Spirit.
    Finally, these same disciples, who had disputed with each other which of them should be the greatest in the Kingdom of God, now continued together in fellowship. This fellowship also was a gift of the Holy Spirit. In this way, our Lord Jesus Christ, after he had ascended into heaven and poured forth the Holy Spirit, gathered together his many disciples into the fellowship of the Church from that day until now. By the grace of God we also, who have entered into this fellowship, now meet together to receive into its full privileges and duties those who are here before us. We come also to pray that God will grant them his gift of the Holy Spirit, without which they cannot fulfil those duties nor enjoy those privileges.
    Let us therefore hear what the Holy Scripture teaches us about the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the life which is in Christ, and the fellowship of the Church, which is a fruit of that same Spirit.
    Here the presbyter, or a layman chosen from the congregation, shall read the following passages of Scripture:

‘And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given. And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And they were in all about twelve men.’—Acts xix. 1-7

‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples.’—John xv. 4-8

‘I THEREFORE, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.’—Ephesians iv. 1-6

    An address may here be given.
    Then shall the presbyter read the names of the candidates, who shall stand one by one as their names are read. Or he may call them to stand together, the names being read after the Questions.
    Then shall the presbyter say, either:

Dearly beloved, you have been baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For some time we have examined you, and learnt that you desire to accept the promises of God made at your baptism, and to walk according to the promises then made in the family of God on your behalf. [When candidates are present who have been baptized as adults, the presbyter shall say ‘by you or on your behalf’.] Now, outward fellowship in the Church is nothing without inward fellowship with Christ, and only those who desire to be saved from all sin, and trust in him alone as Saviour, can enjoy this fellowship. We therefore call upon you to make public confession of your faith and of your acceptance of Christ as your Saviour, and to promise that by God’s help you will fully renounce all evil and zealously seek what is pleasing to him.

    Or else he shall say:

Beloved in the Lord, in your baptism you were received into the fellowship of Christ, sealed as members of the family and household of God, and engaged to be the Lord’s. Now you come, of your own choice, to ratify the solemn covenant then made on your behalf, to profess your faith in the Lord Jesus, to consecrate yourself to him, and to receive the gifts which he is waiting to bestow. Doubt not, but earnestly believe that he waiteth to bless you and that he will confirm and strengthen you anew by his Holy Spirit, that you may grow in the knowledge and love of God and be kept by his power to the end.

    Then the Minister shall continue with the Vows.
 

ALTERNATIVE INTRODUCTION

    After the singing of the opening hymn or lyric, and prayer, the presbyter shall read the names of the candidates, who shall stand one by one as their names are read. Or he may call them to stand together, the names being read after the Questions.
    Then shall the Minister address them as follows:

Dearly beloved, you were received at your baptism into Christ’s flock, that you might be tended and nurtured in his fold. You now come, in the presence of this congregation here assembled, to accept his promises for yourselves, to acknowledge the obligations of your membership in him, and to dedicate yourselves in person to him as your Lord.
    You come also that, in accordance with the practice of the apostles, we may lay our hands upon you with prayer, and that you may receive the Holy Spirit of power for the strengthening of your lives in every good work.
    You come too that we may welcome you into the full fellowship of Christ’s people, and that together we may worship and serve him all the days of our life.
    To this end, therefore, hear the words of Scripture:

‘I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’—Romans xii. 1, 2

‘NOW when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.’—Acts viii. 14-17

‘I THEREFORE, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.’—Ephesians iv. i-6

    An address may here be given.
 

THE VOWS

The Minister shall then continue, the candidates standing:

I ASK you now, in the presence of God and of this congregation:

    Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your only Lord and Saviour, and do you confess the Christian faith, as contained in Holy Scripture and as taught in the Apostles’ Creed?
All the candidates shall answer together: I do.

    In the power of Christ do you renounce all evil, and will you fight against sin both within and without?
Answer: I do, God being my helper.

    Do you promise to obey God’s holy will, and to walk according to his commandments all the days of your life? Do you determine to fulfil the duties of your membership in the Church, joining in public worship, especially in Holy Communion, and being faithful in the reading of Scripture, in fellowship, in prayer, in giving, and in observance of the Lord’s Day?
Answer: I do, God being my helper.

    Do you acknowledge yourselves bound to confess the faith of Christ crucified and risen, to fight manfully under his banner, and to continue his faithful soldiers and servants unto your lives’ end, bearing witness to him both in word and in deed?
Answer: I do, God being my helper.

    If the names have not been read before, they shall be read now, one by one, each candidate answering ‘I do, God being my helper’.

Then shall the Minister say to the candidates:

Beloved, you have confessed your faith in Christ our only Saviour, and your desire to obey him and live in the fellowship of his people; I ask you now to kneel and confess to him in silence your sins and shortcomings, praying that he may enable you truly to give yourselves to him. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    Here shall silence be kept for a space, all kneeling. Then shall the Minister say:

I ask you now to give yourselves to him, saying with me: I bow down and worship God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and today I accept him as my Lord, and give myself to him as his servant. I dedicate myself, my body, soul, and all that I have, to him. I promise to serve him, relying on his grace, unto my life’s end. He hears the vow which I have now made in his presence, and the members of this congregation are witnesses thereof.
 

THE CONFIRMATION

    Then shall the Minister call on the congregation to pray together with him in silence for the candidates, after which the following prayer shall be said by the Minister alone, or, at his invitation, by the congregation with him:

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who by holy baptism hast received these thy children into thy family, send down upon them, we beseech thee, thy Holy Spirit the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and keep them in thy mercy unto life eternal; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Minister lay his hand upon the head of each of them, saying:

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ grant thee, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man: that Christ may dwell in thy heart by faith, that being rooted and grounded in love, thou mayest be filled with all the fullness of God. Amen.

    Or else:

May thy grace, O Lord, abound unto this thy child, that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit, until he come unto thine everlasting Kingdom. Amen.

    Or else:

Defend, O Lord, this thy child with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit, until he come unto thine everlasting Kingdom. Amen.

    The presbyter, following the Minister, may here give to each newly confirmed person his membership card; or this may be done after the reception by the congregation, or immediately after the service. Together with the membership card, a Prayer Book, Bible, or New Testament, may be given.

When all have been confirmed, the Minister shall say:
The Lord be with you.
And all shall answer: And with thy spirit.
The Minister shall say:

Let us pray.

And all shall say together:

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; In earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Then shall the Minister add this prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable unto thy divine majesty, we make our humble supplication unto thee for these thy children, upon whom we have now laid our hands. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy Word that they may serve thee all their days and be with thee for ever; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.
 

THE RECEPTION

Then shall the newly confirmed persons rise and face the congregation, while the presbyter, or a representative layman, and the congregation shall stand and together say to them:

Beloved, we the members of this congregation do affectionately welcome you into full fellowship with us. We here with you renew our vows unto the Lord. We pledge to you our sympathy, our help, and our prayers, that you may evermore increase in the knowledge and love of God. God grant that, serving and being served, we may together be prepared for the perfect fellowship of the saints above. Amen.

Then shall the newly confirmed persons turn again to the Minister who shall say to them:

Dearly beloved, we have with joy received you this day into the full fellowship of the Church, to share in all its privileges and fulfil its responsibilities. We trust that you will fight valiantly under the banner of Christ, and continue his faithful soldiers and servants. unto your lives’ end.

    Or else the Minister may give his right hand to each newly confirmed person, saying to him:

In token of our fellowship and common purpose we now give you the right hand of fellowship.

Instead of the right hand of fellowship, they may greet each other in any appropriate manner.
    Then shall the newly confirmed persons kneel (the congregation remaining standing), and the Minister shall bless them as follows:

Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no man evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all men; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Or he may say this Ascription instead:

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy: to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

A hymn or lyric of discipleship may then be sung, during which the offerings of the newly confirmed persons shall be received. At the end of the hymn they shall return to their seats.
    An address may then be given.
    After the singing of a hymn, it is recommended that Holy Communion should be celebrated. The newly confirmed persons shall receive the Communion together, before the rest of the congregation.
If there is no such celebration, the Minister shall dismiss the people with a blessing.