Confirmation -- when family wants to opt out of an activity

If a family has Confirmation as a lower priority as needed and wants to opt out of some of the activities or requirements, don't let them put you in the role of bad person.

• Be sympathetic and listen to all their excuses.
• Explain that it wouldn't be fair to the other youth if their youth didn't have to do everything.
• Offer some alternative and equivalent activities they can substitute. This means more work for you but if you can redeem this family, it may be worth it.
• If they complain that, “They didn't have to do all this nonsense,” “other churches don't require these things,” “you shouldn't put roadblocks in the kids paths,” agree that other churches do things differently but this is how it is done here – your hands are tied.
• Keep the ball in their court. If they opt out of confirmation it is their decision and they can't blame it on you or the church.