2007 Confirmation Syllabus
Discovering Our Faith

7 Jan                                    Orientation Breakfast @ 8:20a—(w/ parents)                        Lee Tyson

• Introductions
• What Is Confirmation?     
• Overview of Confirmation Schedule
• Expectations:  (for more details, see last section of this document)
• Admirable Attendance (only 2 unexcused absences permitted…all quizzes must be made up at next class session if absent when administered)
• Punctual Attendance (BE ON TIME!)
• Vertical Impact Participation (Consistently attend Wednesday or Sunday nights)
• Consistently Attend Worship Services at Armstrong
• Options:  8:20a or 11:11a
• Class Participation & Discussion
• Proficient Achievement on Quizzes, Final Exam, Essay, Journaling
• Completion of any assignments given in addition to those listed in this Syllabus.
• Participation in Confirmation Retreat & Confirmation Sunday (Parents are also expected to participate in Confirmation Sunday)
• Participation in at least one of the following Vertical Impact events:
• Ski Retreat (Jan.12-15); Registration packets are available at today’s orientation meeting.
• Appalachian Missions Trip (April 19-22)
• Scholarships Available for both of these events if there are financial issues.

14 Jan                        No Class  (Ski Retreat…Yipee!J)

Week 1—21 Jan            Discovering Church Membership—Part 1                        Lee Tyson

• Introductions/Expectations…Distribute Notebooks
• Understanding Our Salvation
• Why am I here?  What’s the problem?  What’s the solution?  What does God want me to do with my life?
• Salvation as Relationship
• Old Testament vs. New Testament
• Concepts of Covenant & Sacrifice
• Tasks—1) Prepare for quiz on readings and class material covered thus far to be given on February 4th; 2) Journaling; 3) Enjoy our ski retreat!

Week 2—28 Jan            Discovering Church Membership—Part 2                    Aimee Fischer

Armstrong/Vertical Impact Philosophy                       

• Why Our Church & Youth Ministry Exist
• Vertical Impact’s Ministry Strategy
• Our Purpose Statements, Potential Audience, Planned Values, Process, Programs
• What Is Expected of Me as a Member?
• Tasks—1) Prepare for Quiz next week; 2) Journaling

*Week 3—4 Feb            Discovering God’s Nature, Word & Sacraments             Lee Tyson

• Cumulative Quiz—Covers all materials discussed/read thus far
• The Trinity
• The Omni’s
• The Bible
• Canonization of Scriptures
• Survey of the Scriptures
• The Meaning of Baptism & the Lord’s Supper
• Tasks—1) Prepare for Quiz next week over “God’s Nature, Word & Sacraments”; 2) Journaling

*Week 4—11 Feb            Discovering Our Christian Heritage                                    Lee Tyson

• Quiz—Covers last week’s materials
• Creation to Reformation
• Protestantism vs. Catholicism
• Priesthood of All Believers
• Wesley to Today
• Brief History of the United Methodist Church
• Distinctions of United Methodism
• A History of Armstrong Chapel UMC
• Church Organization (local & international)
• Tasks—1) Prepare for Quiz next week over “Our Christian Heritage” ; 2) Journaling

*Week 5—18 Feb             Discovering Spiritual Maturity—Part 1                                    Lee Tyson

• Quiz—Covers last week’s materials
• Video—“E”
• God Wants You to Grow, Not Stay Where You Are!
• Five Marks of Spiritual Maturity
• The Mark of Daily Time With God
• The Mark of Reading God’s Word
• The Mark of Prayer: Talking with God
• Task—Journaling

Week 6—25 Feb            Discovering Spiritual Maturity—Part 2                                    Lee Tyson

• Five Marks (continued)
• The Mark of Tithing: Giving Back to God
• The Mark of Fellowship: Enjoying/Nurturing God’s Family
• Starting & Maintaining Good Spiritual HABITS
• Tasks —1) Prepare for quiz on the Five Marks; 2) Journaling

*Week 7—4 Mar             Discovering My Ministry—Part 1                                         Lee Tyson

• Quiz—Covers materials from Weeks 5 & 6
• What is Ministry?
• My Personality
• My Spiritual Gift(s)
• My Experiences & Abilities
• Tasks—Complete Personality & Spiritual Gifts Inventories…Inventories must be received in church office to Wendy no later than 3:30p on Wednesday, March 7th…(take a break from Journaling if you want!)

Week 8—11 Mar            Discovering My Ministry—Part 2                                          Lee Tyson

• Discussion of Inventory Results
• Top 10 Reasons You Need to be in a Ministry
• Our Ministry SHAPE
• What Ministry Is Right For Me?
• Task—Journaling

Week 9—18 Mar            Confirmation Retreat  (No Regular Class Meeting)

Week 10—25 Mar            Discovering My Life Mission—Part 1                                    Lee Tyson

• God’s Purpose for Creating Us
• Why Jesus’ Mission on Earth Must Matter to Me
• The Great Commission
• What is Evangelism?
• Video—“8 Reasons Why I Don’t Share My Faith”
• Task—Journaling

Week 11—1 Apr             Discovering My Life Mission—Part 2                                    Lee Tyson

• Sharing the Good News
• Living the Life
• Friendship Evangelism
• Video—“WWJD, What Wouldn’t Jesus Do?””
• Sharing OUR Story
• Becoming a “World-Class” Christian
• Tasks—1) Prepare for quiz on Life Mission; 2) Write out in words or picture your “rescue story,” and submit next week; 3) Journaling

8 Apr                                    No Class  (Easter)

*Week 12—15 Apr Discovering the Christian Worship Calendar—Part 1  Lee Tyson           

• Quiz—Covers materials from Weeks 10 & 11
• Rescue Stories/Pictures Due
• Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
• Significance in traditions, symbols & colors
• Tasks—1) Prepare for quiz on Advent, Christmas, Epiphany; 2) Journaling

22 Apr                        No Class  (Appalachian Missions Trip)

* Week 13—29 Apr            Discovering the Christian Worship Calendar—Part 2  Lee Tyson

• Quiz—Covers materials from Week 12
• Lent, Easter, Pentecost
• Significance in traditions, symbols & colors
• Tasks—1) Finish up journaling; 2) Begin studying for Final Exam; 3) Be praying about your decision to be confirmed.

Week 14—6 May            Confirmation Debriefing/Review                                    Lee Tyson

• Journals Due (minimum 10 one-page, thorough entries)
• So Now What?
• Church Membership Expectations
• Discuss Confirmation Sunday Logistics

Tasks—Complete 500 word Confirmation Essay, Study for Final Exam

Week 15—13 May            FINAL EXAM … Confirmation Essay Due                        Lee Tyson

Week 16—20  May            CONFIRMATION SUNDAY              (Service Time(s)/Rehearsal TBA)

*  Denotes Quiz will be administered

VERY IMPORTANT:

Evaluation Standards: Students must earn a minimum of 70% to be justly confirmed.  The following is a breakdown of how one is “evaluated” in the Confirmation process.

• Attendance/Class Participation/Attend Vertical Impact—            40%
• Journaling (10 thought-provoking, thorough, one-page entries)—      15%
• Quizes—                                                      15%
• Confirmation Essay—                                          15%
• Final Exam—                                                15%
• 5 Community Service Hours                              REQUIRED
• Participation in Confirmation Retreat—                        REQUIRED
• Participation in either Ski Retreat or Spring MissionsTrip—      REQUIRED
• FULL Participation in Confirmation Sunday—                  REQUIRED
• Vertical Impact Participation & Worship Attendance            REQUIRED

Meeting Location: We will meet each Sunday morning in Jefferson Center Conference Room A (across the street from the church) promptly at 9:40 until 10:40.

Instructors: This class will be instructed mainly by Lee Tyson, Pastor to Students.  Aimee Fischer, our Youth Ministry Assistant, will lead some sessions.  Finally, several VI adult staff & Student Leaders may also assist from time to time.

Curriculum: Classroom discussion materials are a conglomerate of the Discipleship 101, 201, 301 & 401 classes of the well-known Saddleback Church in California, Rev. Bill Bowdle’s Dynamic Disciples, Claim the Name (a confirmation study published by Cokesbury), all interspersed with the personal offerings, styles, and experiences of our Pastor to Students, Lee Tyson.