The Scarsdale Congregational Church offers a one-year confirmation class for students who have entered the eighth-grade (or higher). Within the context of our church school program, confirmation class represents the “senior year” of our church school. However, it is not necessary for a student to have attended our church school to enroll in our confirmation class. We have had confirmands in the past who never attended our church school, and the confirmation class doesn't assume prior instruction in our church school. Confirmation class sessions, about an hour and a half long, are held on a week-day evening (traditionally Monday or Tuesday) from October to May, and are taught by an ordained minister (unlike the church school, which is taught by volunteer lay persons).

The precise content of the confirmation class is determined by the minister, or ministers, who are providing the instruction. The church does not have a standard curriculum to which ministers are required to adhere, however the program does follow a general model recommended by the United Church of Christ. In addition to the study of the Old and New Testaments, a review of the history of Judaism and Christianity, and an exploration of spirituality, including ideas about God, the confirmation program also reflects on other major religions. The process of confirmation involves not only educating students about what it means to be a Christian, it also includes consideration of the similarities and differences between Christian beliefs and the beliefs of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto-ism, and other widely-practiced faiths. Equally important, the confirmation year is a time in which students can examine and discuss together their own evolving beliefs. A modest amount of homework is assigned weekly and each student completes a short paper about a religion other than Christianity.

At the conclusion of the program, the confirmands, under the supervision of the ministers, have the opportunity to help plan the worship service for Confirmation Sunday, and participate as a group in leading this service. On Confirmation Sunday, each student has the opportunity to make a personal statement to the congregation about his or her spiritual journey to this point. Each student also has the opportunity to covenant with the congregation (to join the church) as a full-fledged member, independent of his or her family. Covenanting with the congregation is entirely optional, and in this church it is very important that the students make this decision entirely on their own. We recognize that not everyone will be ready to make this commitment at the conclusion of the eighth-grade year. Students may choose to do so during a future year, or not, but it does not affect their status as a member of the church community if they do not. Some adults have participated fully as members of our church community for decades without formally covenanting with the church, and no one really takes any notice of that fact.

If you are interested in enrolling a grade-school student (entering the eighth-grade or above) in our confirmation class, please contact the church office to register.