A: There are many different forms of confession used in Anglican churches, but they all descend from Thomas Cranmer's "Order for Communion" (1548). The original words of the confession were:

"Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

The confession we use at St. Luke's is from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Holy Eucharist Rite II and reads:

"Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen."

Notice that they both follow the same pattern! For centuries, we have been confessing this way. Confession helps members recognize their need for God's grace and receive a direct assurance of forgiveness. It is a way to unburden the heart, grow spiritually, and acknowledge one's weakness through a communal, shared confession that speaks to our collective participation in sinful structures and ways of being.

The confession in our liturgy provides the following:

  • Corporate acknowledgment: The entire congregation confesses wrongdoing together. This is a communal recognition that all people are in need of God's mercy.

  • Aids spiritual health: The General Confession is intended to help individuals recognize their need for God's grace to be their "healthiest selves".

  • Part of regular worship: It typically occurs during the Eucharist, following the prayers of the people, and precedes the Peace. It therefore prepares us to exchange the Peace with our fellow parishioners with a clean heart so that we can approach the altar in full fellowship with the Body of Christ.

    • The Episcopal Church also allows for private confession, which is called "Reconciliation of a Penitent" in the Book of Common Prayer. This practice is optional but available to anyone who would like it. Oftentimes I have people informally confess things on their hearts through pastoral care, and this is different. The Reconciliation of a Penitent is a formal rite. The priest dons a stole, listens, provides counsel, and proclaims an absolution. Note that an absolution is not a mystical washing away of sin performed by the priest. God has already forgiven and I, as priest, remind the confessor of this truth. God alone forgives and God has already done so. The absolution restores a sense of harmony to the person who hears it. Note also that The Episcopal Church requires priests to report any abuse (even though the State of Utah allows an exemption for clergy). I disclose this responsibility to anyone who approaches me for formal confession.

    Reconciliation of a Penitent provides the following:

  • Ease of troubled consciences: This is a voluntary, sacramental rite for those whose

    consciences are troubled or burdened.

  • A deeper assurance: It provides a more personal and individual assurance of pardon and

    absolution from a priest, which can be a great comfort.

  • Spiritual guidance: It offers a chance for spiritual direction and to hear God's

    forgiveness declared directly to the individual, helping to unburden the heart.

  • Not required: The Episcopal Church uses the saying "all may, some should, none must" to describe private confession, emphasizing that it is a gift and not a mandatory practice.

    The 1549 version of the Book of Common Prayer recognized that, while some Christians will find they need sacramental confession, others will find “their humble confession to GOD, and the generall confession to the churche” sufficient to satisfy their conscience; neither group is to judge the other, so that charity might be preeminent in all things.

    Author: The Reverend Ashley Wright