How Does Individual Confession and Absolution Work?

Individual confession and absolution is often mis-named "private" confession and absolution because it is done "in private" between an individual Christian and his or her pastor.  But it's not truly "private" because the pastor is there to hear the individual Christian's confession.  It's private between those two, but it's not truly private.

There is a prepared set of words that a pastor and parishioner can use for individual confession and absolution in the Lutheran Service Book (our hymnal) on pages 292-3.

The key differences between corporate confession and individual confession, though, are:

1.  Who is present (i.e. individual and pastor)
2.   The words on page 292 that say: If you wish to confess specific sins that trouble you, continue as follows:  "What troubles me particularly is that..."  Confess whatever you have done against the commandments of God, according to your own place in life.  The pastor may gently question or instruct you - not to pry or judge - but to assist in self-examination.

That last part about the pastor "gently questioning or instructing" is how individual confession and absolution usually happens.  Most often, a Christian comes to the pastor to talk something over and in the course of the conversation, it becomes increasingly clear (often to the individual) that there are sins he or she needs to confess.  At that point, whether the individual requests it or the pastor suggests it, the conversation transitions smoothly into confession and absolution without using the "formal, printed rite."

Do you want to know how it "works"?  Well, it "works" just like corporate confession and absolution.  Through God's Word (sometimes as guided conversation with the pastor, though not necessarily) we become conscious of our sin and say "I am sorry for all of this and ask for grace.  I want to do better."

The printed rite continues like this:  [Pastor]  "God be merciful to you and strengthen your faith.  Do you believe that my forgiveness is God's forgiveness?"  [Individual]  "Yes."  [Pastor]  "Let it be done for you as you believe.  In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

The Word of God convicts the sinner through the Law, but the Gospel promises grace and mercy in the form of forgiveness.  The repentant sinner trusts God's promise and receives the forgiveness that He has promised.