New, large study: The Folkekirken will strengthen confirmation instruction

Thousands of young people are entering the ranks of adults this year after several months of confirmation preparation to affirm their Christian faith.

It is important that the instruction takes place on a qualified basis.

Pernille Vigsø Bagge, chair of the Pastor's Association

And the instruction should be strengthened, believes the Church of Denmark.

As a result, they have now begun a large study to see how the confirmation preparation can be improved.

This is reported by Birgitte Stoklund, who is the rector of the Church of Denmark's Education and Knowledge Center.

- It is important to always be on the lookout. What worked in the past may not work today. So it is important to be aware of how we can create the best instruction within the framework of the confirmation instruction.

As it is today, there is a wide variety of how priests approach the preparation. There are indeed few requirements and almost completely free frames for it.

The Church of Denmark will not shy away from this, but still believes it is necessary to look more closely at the framework of the instruction. Especially in light of the unrest that several priests have experienced in the confirmation room – and as we earlier reported on DR. (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/praester-mangler-hjaelp-det-er-blevet-svaerere-undervise-kommende-konfirmander )

- It is primarily to support the good confirmation preparation around the Church of Denmark.

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Expert believes new thinking is necessary

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And it is important if the Church of Denmark wants to reach the young. This believes Brian Arly Jacobsen, religious sociologist at the University of Copenhagen. In recent years, the number of young people who are confirmed has, in fact, fallen. Last year, it was about 64 percent according to figures from the Church of Denmark. And it is the lowest since 2004, when they began to do it annually.

- It is, of course, such a percentage that falls every year at the moment, and it is, of course, a problem if it continues for the Church of Denmark. Therefore, there is always a need to think anew so that one can hold on to the part of the young people who want to be confirmed, says he.

Also the Pastor's Association believes that it is essential to look more closely at the confirmation preparation.

- It is really important that the instruction takes place on a qualified basis. In recent years, priests have had challenges with many children who suffer from school stress, discomfort and have diagnoses. So one is forced to dress the priests up to be able to handle the diversity and ensure that the children feel safe and get as much as possible out of the instruction, says chair Pernille Vigsø Bagge.

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"Confirmation is crucial for the Church of Denmark"

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But it is also necessary because the confirmation period is crucial for the Church of Denmark, believes Brian Arly Jacobsen from the University of Copenhagen.

- The young people remember parts of their confirmation preparation. And when we have such a high percentage of the population who still support the Church of Denmark and are members of the Church of Denmark, when we compare with the countries around us, the confirmation preparation plays a crucial role in this context.

- It is, of course, a problem if it continues for the Church of Denmark.

Brian Arly Jacobsen, religious sociologist at the University of Copenhagen

This is also shown by a completely new population survey, which the Church of Denmark is behind. In it, 66 percent of former confirmands say that they remember their confirmation as a good time.

But there is also 21 percent who do not care about going to the priest. Younger generations have a more positive memory, which indicates that previous improvements have had a positive effect. This believes the rector of the Church of Denmark's Knowledge and Education Center.

- Something could indicate that the work that has been done in recent years to develop the confirmation preparation, in fact, bears fruit, says Birgitte Stoklund.

In the first instance, the Church of Denmark will, among other things, look at whether young people should be confirmed in the 7th or 8th grade, and whether the priest should have a few extra hands for the instruction. This is a project that has started this year, which the Church of Denmark itself has set 1.25 million kroner aside for. It ends in 2027.

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