Whereas, several churches in the New England Annual Conference have seriously studied the document, By Water and the Spirit; and
Whereas, the practice of confirmation in the Christian Church goes back at least to the fourth century; and
Whereas, The United Methodist Church has practiced the rite of confirmation since 1964; and
Whereas, the 1988 United Methodist Hymnal and the 1992 United Methodist Book of Worship, the liturgical embodiment and expression of our doctrines, both make use of the word confirmation with reference to reception into The United Methodist Church or a particular congregation of our denomination; and
Whereas, this New England Annual Conference has advanced a resolution to the 1996 General Conference urging the passage of covenanting in the Church of Christ Uniting; and
Whereas, several denominations of the Church of Christ Uniting practice the rite of confirmation;
Be it resolved, that the General Conference amend the recommendations of the study on baptism, By Water and the Spirit, to allow for the use of the term "confirmation" when referring to the "Profession of the Faith into Which We Were Baptized."
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 20250-DI-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference