St. Dunstan's Anglican Church · Largo, Florida

Confirmation, Reception, & Reaffirmation

Three rites of mature Christian commitment, administered by the Bishop
with prayer and the laying on of hands.

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"I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved."

Joel 2:28, 32 · Acts 2:17, 21

ABOUT THESE RITES

The Anglican Church requires a public and personal profession of faith from every adult believer. Confirmation or Reception by a Bishop is its liturgical expression — an occasion for the whole Church to witness mature discipleship and to pray for God's strengthening grace.

Each rite involves the Bishop's laying on of hands and prayer, and all three follow the same pattern of examination, congregational witness, and individual blessing.

Get Confirmed
A bishop in red vestments anoints a young man's forehead during a confirmation ceremony in a church, while another person places a hand on his shoulder.

First Rite

Confirmation

Confirmation is the rite by which a baptized Christian publicly and personally professes faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and receives the strengthening of the Holy Spirit through the Bishop's prayer and laying on of hands. It is clearly grounded in Scripture: the Apostles prayed for and laid their hands on those who had already been baptized (2 Tim. 1:6–7; Acts 8:14–17; 19:6).

 Through Confirmation, God strengthens the believer for Christian life in the service of Christ and his kingdom. Grace is God's gift, and we pray that he will pour out his Holy Spirit on those who have already been made his children by adoption and grace in Baptism.

Who is Confirmation for?

  • Baptized Christians who are ready to make a mature, public, and personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
  • Those who have received instruction in the Holy Scriptures, the Nicene Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Catechism of the Church
  • Those who have not previously been confirmed or received in an Anglican or Episcopal church
Defend, O Lord, this your servant N. with your heavenly grace, that he may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until he comes into the fullness of your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

The Bishop's Prayer at Confirmation

Second Rite

Reception

Reception is for Christians who have made an adult profession of faith in another Christian tradition — including those who have been confirmed in another denomination — and who now wish to become full members of the Anglican Church. At the direction of the Bishop, and after public reaffirmation of their baptismal promises, they are received into this Communion with prayer and the laying on of hands.

 Reception honors the reality of God's prior work in a person's life in another tradition while marking their entry into the fellowship of the Anglican Church. It is not a "second baptism" but a pastoral and ecclesial act of welcome.

Who is Reception for?

  • Those who were confirmed or made adult profession of faith in another Christian tradition (e.g., Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist)
  • Those who now desire to be received into the fellowship of the Anglican Church
  • Those who have received appropriate instruction in Anglican faith and practice
Strengthen, O Lord, with your Holy Spirit, your servant N., whom we recognize as a member of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, and receive into the fellowship of this Communion. Empower him for your service, and sustain him all the days of his life. Amen.

The Bishop's Prayer at Confirmation

Third Rite 

Reaffirmation

Reaffirmation is for confirmed believers who are already members of this Church — including those who are returning to active Christian discipleship after a period of lapsing, or those experiencing a renewal of commitment or a significant life transition. The Bishop accepts their reaffirmation of vows with prayer and the laying on of hands.

 Reaffirmation recognizes that Christian life involves seasons of wandering and return, struggle and renewal. It provides a public occasion to mark God's grace at work in a believer's life and to receive the Church's prayer for continued faithfulness.

Who is Reaffirmation for?

  • Confirmed Anglicans returning to active Christian discipleship after a period of lapsing
  • Those experiencing significant renewal of Christian commitment or a major life transition
  • Those previously received from another tradition who desire to mark a moment of renewed dedication
N., the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in you, direct and empower you by his grace, that you may continue in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ all the days of your life. Amen.

The Bishop's Prayer at Confirmation

The Examination

The Promises Candidates Make

All candidates for Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation publicly renew their baptismal vows before the Bishop and congregation. These are the questions put to every candidate:

Bishop Do you, here in the presence of God and the Church, renew the solemn promises and vows made at your Baptism and commit to keep them?
Candidates I do.
Bishop Do you renounce the devil and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
Candidates I renounce them.
Bishop Do you renounce the empty promises and deadly deceits of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
Candidates I renounce them.
Bishop Do you renounce the sinful desires of the flesh that draw you from the love of God?
Candidates I renounce them.
Bishop Do you turn to Jesus Christ and confess him as your Lord and Savior?
Candidates I do.
Bishop Do you joyfully receive the Christian Faith, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?
Candidates I do.
Bishop Will you obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in them all the days of your life?
Candidates I will, the Lord being my helper.
Bishop Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?
People We will.
Almighty and everliving God, let your fatherly hand ever be upon these your servants; let your Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of your Holy Word, that they may faithfully serve you in this life, and joyfully dwell with you in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Concluding Prayer after the Laying on of Hands

Ready to Take This Step?

We'd love to talk with you about Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation.
Please reach out to Fr. Strachan to begin the conversation.

Register For ConfirmationContact the rector
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