Confirmation
We human beings mark and celebrate the most important events of our lives with rituals. Confirmation is the ritual in which we celebrate and affirm our Christian life in the rich tradition of the Episcopal Church.
Confirmation at St. Stephen’s Church
Confirmation typically is offered once a year, when one of our bishops visits the parish. It is for people who were either baptized as children or who are coming to the Episcopal Church from another tradition. Confirmation is preceded by a period of instruction and inquiry. In the ritual of Confirmation, a person makes a mature affirmation of the promises made by his or her parents and godparents at Baptism, and joins the fellowship of Christians who worship and serve in the Anglican tradition.
The annual visit from a bishop is an important day in the life of a parish. The bishop is a symbol of our \part in the larger church: our diocese, the Episcopal Church, the worldwide Anglican Communion. The bishop also provides a connection to the earliest days of the Christian church through “apostolic succession,” the laying on of hands from bishops in a line from the Apostle Peter.
The Diocese of Virginia is a large diocese and we have three bishops serving us. This year, we will receive a visit from the Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris, assistant bishop (pictured), on Sunday, May 18, 2025, for the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services. In addition to confirming adults and youth, Bishop Harris will preach and celebrate the Eucharist.
Reception
Reception is for those who have already been confirmed in another denomination and wish to affirm their choice to continue their spiritual journey as an Episcopalian.
Reaffirmation
Some who are already confirmed Episcopalians may wish to be “reaffirmed” by the bishop when he or she visits St. Stephen’s. Often this will occur after a period of study, reflection and prayer. It may take place as a result of having accompanied a teenage child or a spouse or other loved one during their own preparation for Confirmation.