The Ministry of Reconciliation

Confession (or Reconciliation) is a standard, but underused, practice in the Church in Wales (Anglicanism) This is a shame because it can be an extremely freeing and uplifting experience. Although it is commonly thought of it as a Roman Catholic practice, it has been a practice for Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutherans for centuries as well. While it is not compulsory, it is encouraged.

There is an old Anglican saying regarding who ought to go to confession: All may, some should, none must.

Why make a confession?

Why tell God something that God already knows and in the presence of another person? Because there are times in our lives when things we do (or don’t do) block us from growing spiritually. They stand between us and God and we can’t get around them. Confession is a way of removing the barriers that grow between us and God, that stop us from growing spiritually. 

Even though God already knows our sins even before we speak them, it is a helpful practice for our spiritual journey to spend time contemplating our sins and confessing them in the presence of others as it helps us to be clear about the realities of our behaviours. To share a confession with a person who is obligated to confidentiality — and then hear that God loves and forgives us in spite of what we’ve done — can be a very healing experience. It is meant to be a regular part of a Christian’s spiritual development. God’s forgiveness removes our burden of sin, it liberates us, it re-creates us and gives us peace. It makes us more effective and stronger in our lives of Christian service and witness.