Pam Teeter, aka Miss Pam, spent time answering questions about the Confirmation process, and her involvement with it. Her responses provide a wonderfully detailed description of the program and how the students learn about Jesus as they grow in their faith. The Stewardship Committee thanks Miss Pam for her work, and for taking the time to provide this information.
Confirmation Program Summary
Pam Teeter, affectionately known as “Miss Pam,” has dedicated 19 years to teaching Confirmation, including 12 years at Hope Lutheran Church. She describes Confirmation as an affirmation of baptism—a time when students publicly profess their faith in God and accept the lifelong responsibility of following Jesus, serving others, participating in worship, and growing in their Christian faith. Confirmation is not a graduation from Sunday school, but an important step toward becoming more involved in the life of the church and becoming a voting member.
Hope Lutheran’s Confirmation program is a two-year program generally designed for baptized students in seventh and eighth grade, although anyone over age 14 may participate. Classes meet weekly from September through May. During the first year, students study the Old and New Testaments. The second year focuses on the Lutheran faith, including baptism, communion, Martin Luther, the Reformation, the ELCA, faith, stewardship, the Trinity, forgiveness, eternal life, and other important Christian teachings.
Miss Pam, who holds two teaching degrees, prepares carefully for each class, using the Bible, Lutheran educational materials, true stories, discussions, skits, activities, and personal experiences to make lessons meaningful and engaging. Students are encouraged to participate, ask questions, share stories, and demonstrate kindness. Attendance, worship notes, and acolyte participation are tracked, and students are encouraged through points, prizes, and other incentives. Each student is required to complete 25 worship notes each year. Miss Pam especially values the “lightbulb moments” when students demonstrate that they understand and connect with what they are learning.
Miss Pam also expressed deep appreciation for Scott Peters, who has served as her classroom helper for four years. He ensures another adult is present as required by church policy, assists students, organizes materials, tracks attendance, and offers helpful ideas and support. His daughters, Sophie and Simona, have also been active participants in the program. Miss Pam says she greatly values Scott’s dedication and believes his assistance is an important part of the success of the Confirmation program.
Miss Pam views teaching Confirmation as a calling and an opportunity to serve God by helping young people grow in their faith. She emphasizes Jesus’ commandment to love God and love others; and encourages students to live lives of service. Her commitment to service extends beyond Hope Lutheran Church; she serves on the Salvation Army board, rings the Salvation Army bell during the Christmas season, and volunteers with programs that support people who are blind.
For those hesitant to volunteer, Miss Pam encourages them to pray about how their talents can be used to help others. She believes volunteering is fulfilling, worthwhile, and a meaningful way to serve God.
To read the full Miss Pam interview in her own words, see below:
Tell us what Confirmation is:
It is an affirmation of baptism. Each confirmation student will fulfill the promises and commitments that their parents and their sponsors made at their baptism. These include attending worship regularly and to hear the word of God; to follow Christ in his teachings; to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to others; to participate in holy communion; to read the holy Bible; to learn and know about the Lord‘s prayer, the Apostles Creed, and the ten Commandments; to learn about faith, prayer and to trust God, totally; to care for others, including people in the world; to work for justice in peace.
On the day of their Confirmation, each student will say or acknowledge that “yes, I believe in God“. They will declare and profess their faith publicly before God in the congregation.
Each student will promise to grow and follow in the Christian faith during his lifetime. As a young adult, he/she accepts the responsibility to follow Jesus, to serve all people and to live a Christian life. The student chooses to turn his/her life over to Christ and to ask God to direct and control their life.
In confirmation class, the students learn that we serve God by helping others. They learn about the Holy Bible and our Lutheran way of life. They learn about their relationships with God, creation, with others and themselves.
Confirmation students learned to put Jesus first in their lives and to lead a life acceptable to Him. Confirmation is not a graduation from Sunday school. It is a step to become more involved in the life of the church. When the students are confirmed, they will become a voting member of the church.
Who should be attending Confirmation classes and how often are they held?
Baptized students normally from the ages of 13 and 14 years old, who are in seventh and eighth grade attend confirmation classes. However, any baptized person over the age of 14 years old can attend confirmation classes and become confirmed in the two year timeframe. I was confirmed at the age of 50 years old. Due to unforeseen circumstances, once I started the confirmation process as a teenager, I was unable to continue the program. No one is ever too old to be confirmed.
The classes begin on Rally day (Fall Kick Off Day was Sunday, Sept 13), which is normally the second Sunday in September. The classes are held weekly from 10 AM to 10:45 AM until the middle of May. Of course, some Sundays there are no classes because it is around the holidays. Each student gets a class schedule at the parent/teacher meeting at the end of August.
How would a student sign up for Confirmation classes?
Parents/students are encouraged to sign up online, or to contact Brittany in the church office to register.
What is the process during the classes?
The confirmation program is for two years. The first year, the students learn about the Bible (both the Old and the New Testament). The second year, they learn about the Lutheran Way of life which includes; understanding our sacraments of holy baptism and holy communion; Who is Martin Luther? What is his small catechism? What is a Lutheran? What was the Protestant reformation? What is the ELCA? What is a synod? What is faith? What is stewardship? What is tithing? What is the Holy Trinity? What are miracles? What is the greatest commandment? They also learn about forgiveness, eternal life, why bad things happen to good people, and If you see something say or do something.
Please note that some churches have a three-year confirmation program, which I took at my previous church. Hope’s confirmation program lasts two years because there is a lot to learn. Also think about a high school football team. They practice long hours, but it takes about 48 minutes to play a game. A marriage vow is a few minutes, but takes a lifetime to follow.
So, the confirmation program is two years, but the students learn about Jesus Christ, and to proclaim his good news by their words and deeds for a lifetime. They learn to follow God and to grow in their Christian faith.
What methods do you use in teaching, what challenges do you experience and do you see the growth in the students?
I am thoroughly prepared for class each week. I study twice a week for class and then I review the subject material early on Sunday morning. I ask God for wisdom, knowledge, and guidance before I prepare for class.
Methods used to teach include the Bible, the Lutheran handbook, and Christian education resources from Oxford Fortress, which is a publishing ministry of the evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This also includes skits about each subject, which are often read by the students at the end of the class, which they enjoy. I also use true stories from the Upper Room magazine, which is a Christian devotional guide and handouts that I have collected over the years which include Christian teaching materials on various topics including kind and encouraging photos.
The class format that I use includes:
– Student sign in and an offering basket for giving
-Having snacks available for students to eat in class (except on Donut Sunday)
– Sharing stories to the students normally from the past week from the news
– Asking students to share a story that they heard, they did or something that was done to or for them.
– Explaining to the students what Christian topic they will learn about that morning
– Asking a student to volunteer to read Bible passages and or scriptures
– Having discussions on the subject material that was taught and ask them questions to respond to individually
– During the last 15 or 20 minutes of class, students read a skit or a true story from the Upper Room magazine
– After this reading, I ask as many questions as there are students so that when they answer, they can pick a prize (snacks, candy or toys) when they leave the classroom.
– Each student receives a bag of candy when they leave, which is on one of the tables. 
I keep accurate totals of the confirmation students attendance, the number of times that they acolyte and the number of worship notes that they submitted. Twenty-five worship notes are required to be completed by the end of May for each year.
I pray to God that I teach His holy word and His teachings properly and correctly to the confirmation students; I ask the Holy Spirit to help and guide me. And the students are absolutely open to expanding their knowledge.
I teach the subject matter and try to relate it to the students. I teach them the Christian principles and values that my mother and grandmother taught me. I share personal stories or other true stories to have them understand and hold their interest. I also use incentives and rewards to encourage and motivate them to participate in class.
I want the students to want to come to class and to look forward to it. I try to make it interesting and enjoyable for them to learn about Jesus Christ and his teachings.
A student gets points for sharing a kindness story, answering questions, asking questions, verbally participating in class and/or bringing a friend to class. I total these points at the end of the year, and each student gets a special gift depending upon the number of points accumulated.
I experience their growth or ‘lightbulb moments’ when I notice that a student understands the concept or idea of what is being taught.
How long have you taught Confirmation Classes?
This September will begin my 19th year of teaching confirmation. I taught confirmation for seven years at my previous church, which was Emmanuel‘s Lutheran Church located in Bellevue PA, which closed. I am beginning my 12th year teaching here at Hope Lutheran Church. The program has not changed.
Tell us about your volunteer work. What lead you to volunteer to undertake the educational training that you give? Where else to you use your skills outside of Hope?
At my previous church, which unfortunately closed, they needed Sunday School teachers, and a confirmation teacher to assist the Pastor. The Pastor knew that I had not been confirmed, so suggested that I help him teach the program and then in three years I would be confirmed too. That is what I did and I continue to teach confirmation today.
We serve God by helping others through volunteering our time, talent, and treasures. God tells us to share our gifts and blessings with others. Jesus was the kindest man who ever lived, and we are to emulate him and to follow his ways. Our lives should be a life of service to others.
Jesus taught the greatest Commandment, which is to love God with all of our hearts and to love others as ourselves. As Christians, we are to serve our neighbors, especially those in need. I have found volunteering to be very fulfilling and satisfying.
I feel called by God to teach the confirmation class. I teach the students as if they were my own children. I am extremely happy and content when the students learn and understand what it means to be a follower of Christ. Teaching confirmation is very meaningful and important to me.
I am also on the Salvation Army board in Avalon and we help all people in need. I ring the Salvation Army Bell every Christmas season for the past 12 years at Giant Eagle in McIntyre Square, off of McKnight Road. I volunteer for the blind once a month; a group of volunteers take blind people to various restaurants in the north Hills area. Again, we serve God by helping others.
What would you tell anyone who might be interested in volunteering but hesitant to get involved?
If someone were interested in learning about volunteering, but is hesitant, I would tell them first to pray about it. I would tell them that volunteering is fulfilling, gratifying, and worthwhile, and that we do it for Jesus. I would ask them what talent they have that could be used to glorify God by sharing it with others. I would then encourage them to do so, and give up their time.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I want to acknowledge and thank Mr. Scott Peters for being my parent helper for three years. This coming September will be his fourth year. He first started volunteering when his daughter Sophie began the confirmation program and continued until she was confirmed. He also attended and observed the classes last year while his daughter Simona started to take the confirmation classes and will continue doing the same this year until she is confirmed. I can always rely on Scott to be in the classroom before class starts at 10 AM. On a few occasions that he was unable to observe, he would ask his wife or another adult to observe in his absence.
Per Hope’s policy, I cannot teach without another adult present. Scott provides insight, ideas and suggestions to me to enhance the confirmation class. When appropriate, he interjects helpful comments to the class.
Sometimes the students that acolyte during the 9 AM service enter the classroom a few minutes late. So that those students don’t have to interrupt the class by going across the room and look for their Bibles in the bookshelf, Scott has their Bibles or Lutheran handbook ready for them after they’ve signed in.
After class, Scott and his daughter Simona collect the handouts that I passed out before class and put them in neat organized piles for me (Sophie previously did this too when she was a student). They also put extra candy, cakes, prizes and other items away for me. Simona and Sophie had almost perfect attendance.
Scott then gives me the class attendance sheets and tells me how many students were in class. Since I go to the 11 AM service, this is very helpful to me as I don’t want to be late walking into worship. I really couldn’t do it without Mr. Scott Peters help. I totally appreciate his total commitment and dedication to Hope’s confirmation program. Thank you, Scott!
Yours in Christ,
Miss Pam