Collaborative Confirmation

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How do we differentiate the way we teach about Jesus from teaching anything else? Sometimes there isn’t much difference in pedagogy. The pastor lays down truths about God, and students internalize the facts—often in long chunks of memorized text. Students then demonstrate their comprehension by writing faith statements which repeat what they learned—adding some details from their lives. But teaching Jesus doesn’t touch hearts if it is only about checking boxes off a list.

On the other hand, in seventh grade, confirmation class saved my life. I was bullied in middle school, and confirmation gave me an alternative, loving community to belong to that was, by the grace of God, exempt from the tyranny of toxic masculinity. Trinity Lutheran Church in West Bend, Wisconsin, was led by Pastors Terry Berg and David and Cristy Schoob, who openly and unapologetically proclaimed the love of Jesus for all people, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in Christ. This was no small thing for 1998, especially for me, since the bullying I faced was poisoned by homophobia. In utter opposition to my school yard terror, the church offered me a place where I could stop worrying about how I was perceived by my peers and simply know that I belonged there, was accepted by them, and then some.

This is one way that teaching Jesus must always be differentiated from teaching other subjects—it must tap into our very own sense of belonging and acceptance. My context now, in Leechburg and Vandergrift, co-teaching a much smaller group of students with Pastor Jim Arter, feels like another world compared to Trinity, and it is! But if what we claim about the Holy Spirit is true—that we are called, gathered, enlightened, and empowered by Her gifts—then indeed, God has called Jim and me to be confirmation teachers here in this place, and for these kids. When you teach Jesus, it not only matters who is teaching and who is learning, but Jesus cannot be separated from the personal stories of those who teach and those who learn.

Yes, of course confirmation class often follows a curriculum, and those can be useful tools, but if it doesn’t involve who I am, who Jim is, and who each of our students are, then we’re not really teaching Jesus, we’re just teaching an abstract concept of Lutheran faith.

Jim brings his life experience of growing up in Pennsylvania in a conservative Lutheran church, discovering that God’s love is infinite and eternal, and that he too was called by that love to follow Jesus and serve God’s people. Jim has been through the two-year confirmation rotation of scripture and catechism several times, and can articulate the deep lessons of our faith in ways that get to the heart of our identity as disciples.

I bring and draw from my experience working with young people in the context of public schools and summer programs, which has taught me to try to meet young people where they are coming from. Moreover, it has become clear to me that each of us must draw from our passions, from our experience growing up, and from the challenges we have faced, and somehow show how all of these are God’s way of shaping who we are.

This was one of Fred Rogers’ guiding principles as well: if you want to connect with children, reflect on your own experience as a child. Sharing our personal challenges in life demonstrates to young people that, contrary to popular belief and despite our positions of authority, we don’t have all the answers for them! But it also shows that there is great opportunity, and much to be gained, in sharing our weaknesses, deep fears, and hurts with each other.

That is the path of faith, letting down our guard to one another, showing our true faces behind the masks the world has taught us to hide behind. Unfortunately this is something we often find frightening of because of our personal insecurities, and we feel much more comfortable trying to convince others that we do have all the answers. But that’s teaching something far different than Christ crucified and risen, isn’t it?

 
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Pastor Ryan Pusch
Dean of Conference 3 & Pastor of Hebron / St. Paul Highfield

Calling all Collaborators:

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SWPA Synod ELCAWayfarer, Youth, Collaboration