Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, NC

In this issue about Christian Education, I want to explain some changes this year about preparing adults and youth for Confirmation. To understand the context for these changes, let me first explain an important modification in this diocese in the bishop's visitation schedule.

Starting this past year, Bishop Curry and his assisting (half-time) bishops are now officially visiting congregations under their care, not once a year, but every 18 months. This allows each bishop to be present for the better part of a day in each congregation rather than rushing off to another visitation on the same day. The hope is that this will result not only in more direct contact and communication between the bishops and the congregations but also in better stewardship of the health and well-being of our bishops. Bishop Curry's last visitation here was in May of 2004; his next will be December 18, 2005, and after that in May of 2007.

You may recall that on a Wednesday evening this past May we hosted a Durham Convocation service of Confirmation here for our youth and adult confirmands, as well as for others of nearby parishes. While adding a wider Church dimension to our liturgy of Confirmation, the loss was that those making this mature public affirmation of their faith were not surrounded by nearly as many of their fellow parishioners as they would have been on a Sunday morning. With the Bishop's coming this December, we will again have that opportunity at the 9:00 service. It will be a different experience for us, not only to have Confirmation mid-year, but also during Advent - in fact the Sunday before Christmas! But this unusual situation does provide several unique opportunities.

The first is that it gives a chance for two sets of Adult Inquirers' Classes this year. In response to those who have been unable for employment or family reasons to participate in our usual Monday evening sessions, there will be a shorter set of Sunday morning sessions this fall, ending with the Confirmation service on December 18. The traditional Monday evening series will also be available in the winter of 2006, concluding with a convocation-wide mid-week service in a nearby congregation. The second opportunity is for our Youth Inquirers (9th graders and up). Instead of building the entire year to the liturgical service itself, they will have the choice to be confirmed mid-year and then spend the second semester learning more about living into this mature faith
commitment.

In these programs and in all those outlined in this month's issue, may our aim be to help ourselves and others grow "into the full stature of Christ."

- Stephen

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