I was confirmed in 1970 at the age of 15(when I was in the 9th grade) after 2 years of confirmation classes. That was the norm for LCA Lutheran Churches in northern Virginia at the time. My children were confirmed when in the 8th grade (again after 2 years of confirmation classes). our congregation (and I think many others) moved from 9th to 8th grade because it was so difficult to keep ahold of the children once they were in High School, unless they were already made to feel a "part of things" already. My great-grandfather was confirmed in 1871 at the age of 27 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Rowan County, NC. He had been brought up in a Lutheran family and attended the same church from childhood (I am pretty certain). In the 1800s I believe children were considered "grown up" at the age of 16 or so, but I don't think that confirmation necessarily occured in their teen years. I think that they had to attend classes and be examined by the pastor (or the churh elders) before being confirmed, and that confirmation generally occured later in their teens or twenties. I can remember a man from my congregation who would be in his 70s or so now, telling of being regoursly examined by the elders of his congregation (and having to know the right answers). When I was in confirmation class, we had homework, quizes and tests, and had to recite the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles Creed. We also had to write a letter to the pastor telling him why we wanted to be confirmed. The congregation council was asked to approve candidates, but I suspect that was pretty much a pro-forma action based solely on the Pastor's recommendation. My children had to write and present to the congregation a sermon on what it meant to them to be confirmed. The congregation council also approved their confirmations, but again, based on the pastor's recommentation. I don't know if this helps or not. Ginny Atwell **************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Go to AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565)