What are theological and practical roles of confirmation in the life of a young person and the Church? The way in which young people are being prepared for their life in the church apparently does not produce committed members; it has been estimated that at least 50% of those confirmed drop out of active church membership. Explore a brief history of confirmation, the faith development of adolescents, and a process for developing your own confirmation program (or using a published curriculum) that invites transformation and discipleship.

Sharon Ely Pearson is an editor and Christian Formation Specialist with Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI) with experience in Christian formation on the local, judicatory and church-wide level. Known for her knowledge of the variety of published curricula across the church, she has also had her hand in the birthing of several books including “Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People” (2012), “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Theologies of Confirmation for the 21st Century” (2014), “Marked for Mission: Youth in Action” (2014) and “Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace: Challenging the Epidemic of Gun Violence” (2015). A graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary and a lifelong Episcopalian, she lives in Norwalk, Connecticut with her husband John, a 17.5 lb. cat named Shadow, and Chobe, a 2-year-old, tennis-ball-fetching, rescue black lab. They have two adult children, both teachers in the Hartford Public Schools. Follow her at Rows of Sharon (www.rowsofsharon.com).

This webinar was originally broadcast on September 10, 2015.