The new Confirm Not Conform youth program is here!
When St. John’s in Oakland realized their traditional Confirmation program wasn’t resonating with their youth, the rector and youth minister embarked on a mission to create something more engaging and meaningful. The result was what would later evolve into the broader “Confirm Not Conform” program.
Values
Confirm Not Conform is built on the belief that the Christian faith should withstand honest examination. It prioritizes formation over mere information, values questions more than predefined answers, and empowers youth to lead and teach. Importantly, the program respects each young person’s decision on whether or not to be confirmed, celebrating their choice regardless of the outcome.
Understanding that most traditional Confirmation programs fail to engage youth, Confirm Not Conform addresses the developmental need of adolescents to forge their own identities. It moves away from the concept of “confirmation as conformity” and instead fosters a genuine, inside-out relationship with God and the church. By focusing on respect and empowerment, the program transforms the Confirmation process into a meaningful journey.
Curriculum
Confirm Not Conform participants engage in three overlapping tasks:
– Deconstruction
– Design
– Construction
These tasks encourage critical thinking, reflection on personal beliefs, and the articulation of a faith that is truly their own. The program is designed not to destroy faith but to build it up in a way that is authentic and enduring.
Empowerment
Finally, Confirm Not Confirm empowers not just the youth, but the entire church community. The program provides resources to help church leaders integrate youth into the church’s mission and ministry, recognizing them as vital members of the congregation. Confirm Not Conform invites churches to adapt and enrich the curriculum, making it a living, evolving process that fosters deep reflection and dialogue.