tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post1921426883888593493..comments2024-02-14T19:05:20.541-06:00Comments on The Arrow's Path: What is this?The Archer of the Foresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075768526819990250noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-49975770178200905472011-01-31T22:20:44.613-06:002011-01-31T22:20:44.613-06:00Hi....I am a Roman Catholic, and love your blog......Hi....I am a Roman Catholic, and love your blog....we are encountering this very issue right now. From what I can tell, beyond all the very nice "reasons" for the Confirmation stole is really a modern attempt to clericalize the laity. It would be far more fitting, and less confusing in terms of a priest's stole, to go back to the red arm band or the red satin sash that goes from shoulder to hip across the body--more in a witness/soldier mode. My instincts are with yours I suspect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-80612411670116921462010-06-17T18:34:41.044-05:002010-06-17T18:34:41.044-05:00Hello!
I'm the managing director for Confirm ...Hello!<br /><br />I'm the managing director for Confirm not Conform and hope I can answer your question.<br /><br />First of all, the confirmands don't make their stoles; they are made by a member of the congregation (usually) and then signed by all the members of the congregation (often).<br /><br />The stoles are presented within the context of a service--not confirmation itself. All the participants in the program, whether they choose to be confirmed or not, take part in the service that recognizes their work in exploring their faith. <br /><br />Each participant has chosen a passage of scripture which they memorize, recite for the congregation, and then teach on--explaining why they chose it, what it means to them, and what they learned from it. It is after this that they receive the stole. It's partly a sign of their authority to teach, and partly (as it says in the service) a sign asking "May God's blessing and the love of God's people always embrace you."<br /><br />Like all signs, it's going to carry a lot of different meanings, but I can assure you it's not meant to be a sign of cheap grace!<br /><br />I hope that helps. Thanks for exploring the website, and let me know if there are any other questions I can answer for you.<br /><br />Laura (at) confirmnotconform (dot) com.Laura Toepferhttp://www.confirmnotconform.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-91634898534737763632010-05-28T16:53:52.405-05:002010-05-28T16:53:52.405-05:00Ryan, In doing some research on stoles a few month...Ryan, In doing some research on stoles a few months ago, I came across the idea that the stole can represent the bonds that bound Christ as he is led to be tortured and killed. Priests wear a stole in recognition of being bound to God in their call and ordination. I suppose that those who confer confirmation stoles are thinking along those lines. That we are bound in baptism to Christ's death and resurrection, therefore, in confirmation we are binding ourselves through the promises made on our behalf at baptism, to God's service as Christians. But that is just a guess, I have no idea really! Court.Rainy Rectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05850718999365371253noreply@blogger.com