BAPTISM INFORMATION
Last updated – February 1st, 2009
As a faith community, we desire you to
consider that, “IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD[REN] HAVE NO
INTENTION OF HAVING AN AFFILIATION WITH THE FAITH COMMUNITY, THEN YOU SHOULD
RECONSIDER YOUR REQUEST FOR BAPTIZING YOUR CHILD(REN). Baptism can never attain
its full significance and meaning when any one of these Three Parties fail in their commitment to one another. We are assured that
God will not fail us: we must take care that we make every attempt to do the
same.
Further Questions Parents can reflect
upon in helping you decide whether to baptize their child(ren).
Why is baptism
important in your view that you desire this sacrament for your child(ren)?
•
If you do not already have an active relationship with the
Faith Community, will you?
•
If not, why would you impose such a rite upon your child if
you do not believe in or are unwilling to become active in the congregation’s
life and ministry of Christ to support your child(ren)’s
faith and spiritual development?
NOTE:
This congregation
is NOT trying to deter parents from
seeking the Sacrament of Baptism. Rather we are seeking to not only take our
promises seriously but to enable the parents to do the same. The faith
community is NOT seeking to exclude
anyone from receiving the Sacrament of Baptism but is trying to stress that
belonging to a faith community carries with it responsibilities and
commitments. Intentions are made on the child(ren)’s behalf and it is up to the parents and the faith
community to support each other together in living them out.
Baptism
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In any organization one belongs to,
there are commitments that must be accepted if one wishes to belong. There are
dues, required attendance and a hope for active involvement to help with the
workings of the organization.
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When one desires their child to be
involved in a organization’s activity (i.e. baseball, swimming, hockey etc.),
the parents spend time and a great deal of effort ensuring that the child meets
the requirements to remain in the activity or team organization.
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Baptism can, in a sense, be seen as
joining an organization -The Church of Jesus Christ. When you, the parents,
desire that your child, whether infant or grown, be baptized, you are indicating that you
see value in Christian faith, teaching and community life.
The faith community offers your child
the rites to the Sacrament of Baptism but not full membership in the United
Church of Canada. Your child, hopefully, will seek this out through the process
of Confirmation later in his or her life.
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In the Sacrament of Baptism you, the
parent(s), are making claims regarding your faith experiences which you wish to
share with your child in a worshipping community. You desire your child to
learn about the Christian way to encourage her\him to grow both in faith and
spiritually. With you seeking out the Sacrament of Baptism, it becomes a “Three
Way Commitment.”
The Part of God
God has a part in Baptism or it is not
a sacrament. It is an invisible grace which makes baptism a sacrament. Through
baptism we acknowledge God’s presence from the very beginning and throughout
the child’s life. This recognition is one of thanksgiving and creates a deeper
awareness of God’s presence in the mystery of this child’s life. Thus, baptism
not only creates the awareness of God’s mystery, but invites us to participate
in it as the child grows in the presence of God.
The
Part of the Faith Community
The Faith Community, which is present
during your child’s Baptism, makes a commitment to the parent(s). It is for
this reason that Baptism should be celebrated in the presence of the
worshipping faith community. It is only in exceptional circumstances that
Baptism should be administered outside the Sunday Worship experience.
The faith community gathers with you,
to celebrate in the joy and the excitement of participating in child’s baptism.
In the Baptismal service the congregation is asked to pledge their support and
care by responding “We do, by the grace of God” in response to:
As a baptized
and baptizing people, we commit ourselves to support and uphold ____ within the
community of faith by; “receiving ________ into this faith community we promise
to support, nurture, and to help in the Christian training of all children
under our care. We also commit ourselves to be with them as they worship God,
love and serve others in seeking justice and in resisting evil.”
This is to say, that the faith
community [the congregation] has indicated to you their intention of
responsibility and commitment themselves in the child’s faith development. The
faith community also is committed to ensuring that there are teachers, a
learning center and a Sunday School curriculum for
your child. Some volunteers are not only parents but are also actively engaged
in the life and ministry of the faith community.
As a faith community all are relied
upon to make the community work. We
hope that your faith will guide you to participate in the ministry and life of
the congregation when a call is issued for help or leadership.
The
Part of the Parents
In order for the Sacrament of Baptism
to be meaningful and to encourage the mystery of God’s presence through it, the
parents active participation is necessary. Parents are
asked four Faith Questions before
the Baptismal Vows are asked:
Profession
of Faith in God:
“Do you believe in God, who has created
and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made Flesh, to reconcile and
make new, and who works in us and others by the Spirit?
Commitment
to seek Justice and Resist Evil:
“Desiring freedom of new life in
Christ, do you seek to resist evil, and to live in love and justice?
Commitment
to follow the way of Christ:
Will you proclaim Jesus crucified and
risen, in your words and actions?
Commitment
to the
“Will you join with the people in this
faith community to celebrate God’s presence, to share in the life, work and
ministry of Christ to others?
Baptismal
Vows:
Baptism is an important step in your
child’s faith journey.
Will you share your faith with _____
growing with her\him in faith, hope, and love?
And
Will you encourage her\him to take
their place in the mission and ministry in Christ’s faith community when she/he
ready to do so?
As part of this Three Way Commitment,
each parent must decide what these faith questions mean to him or her ‘AND HOW
WILL YOU TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE CHRISTIAN TRAINING OF YOUR CHILD(REN)? Discussion to explore this will transpire during
the minister’s visit prior to Baptism.