Discussion Forums

Attending/helping at a sequence of Baptisms, I find no connection with the promises which the Godparents are asked to make.
  Not only the words, but the fact that for people often new to church services, there as friends of the parents, these are words which have no resonance, probably no meaning. Some services include a fair amount of explanation, which might help those involved to see beyond - but I wonder what other promises have been used - or are ‘permitted’ - in Baptism services?
What other forms of Baptism service are authorised?

Hi Lavender, it all depends upon the denomination! As a Methodist minister I offer two baptism services to those who have children too young to answer for themselves. The first is the one in the Methodist Worship Book and the other is a baptism sevice that I have written specifically for people who are not church people, who have no understanding of the language, etc. The promises are not irreleavnt ‘God’ promises but human commitments to support the family and the child. That for me is the real ‘god’ promise - it is humanity at its best, and it is in the fullness of humanity that I am convinced we experience divinity. Once, after ‘doing’ this latter baptism service, the parents came back and asked me to marry them!

language, etc. The promises are not irreleavnt ‘God’ promises but human commitments to support the family and the child. That for me is the real ‘god’ promise - it is humanity at its best, and it is in the fullness of humanity that I am convinced we experience divinity. Once, after ‘doing’ this latter baptism service, the parents came back

Hi DorothyJackT: thanks for the posting but is there something missing from your reply?

At any of the Baptisms I do, I try to emphasise the community aspect to them. The child is welcomed into the ‘church family’ and the congregation also makes a promise to support the child and parents.

I use the Church of Scotland’s Book of Common Order for any Baptismal Services.

John Churcher - you mention that you have written an alternative Baptism Service - Could I have a copy of it please?  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Thanks Des, I will email it to you ASAP. John