Commitment & Membership

Commitment & Membership

1. Infant Baptism (paedobaptism) - not a biblical idea but a later development.

   • RCC, Orthodox and Anglican churches think it's normal to baptise babies.
     • Parents and Godparents make promises on behalf of child to reject evil and turn to Christ.
     • In RCC + CofE, child confirmed when they're older.
     • In Orthodox, baby confirmed at baptism.
   • CofE Baptism.
     • Sometimes called a 'Christening', where baby is given its 'Christian' name.
     • Service:
       • 1. Family + friends gather in church, normally at regular Sunday service.
       • 2. During the service, parents + godparents bring baby to font. Asked 2 sets of questions:
         • Do you turn to Christ? Do you repent of your sins? Do you renounce evil?
         • Do you believe and in God? Do you believe and trust in Jesus Christ who redeemed the world? Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit who gives life to the world?
         • Parents + Godparents reply on behalf of the baby.
       • 3. Priest pours water over the baby's head saying "I baptise you...."
       • 4. Baby is given a lighted candle as symbol that they've passed from darkness to light.
       • 5. Priest may make sign of a cross on baby's head.
       • 6. Baby welcomed into congregation.
   • RCC Baptism.
     • 1. Family + friends gather in church.
     • 2. Parents and priest make sign of cross on baby's head. Bible reading and sermon.
     • 3. Water in font is blessed.
     • 4. Parents and godparents answer same Q's as in CofE church.
     • 5. Priest pours water over baby's head 3x saying "I baptise you..."
     • 6. Baby anointed with Chrism oil.
     • 7. Baby dressed in new white robe and given lighted candle.
     • 8. Sometimes, priest touches mouth and ears of baby to symbolize they are now open to hear and speak God's word.
   • Orthodox Baptism.
     • Baby baptized and confirmed at same time.
     • 1. Parents + godparents bring child to church for Eucharist. Stand facing East, priest blows on baby';s face - blow away evil.
     • 2. Priest then says prayer to drive evil out of child (exorcism) 3x. Godparents face West and recite prayers after priest where they reject devil and all evil 3x. May also spit on devil..
     • 3. Parents + Godparents declare belief in Christ 3x.
     • 4. Baby is undressed.
     • 5. Priest + godparents put blessed oil on baby's forehead, nose, ears, mouth, chest, legs, feet, hands and back - anointing.
     • 6. Naked baby fully immersed in font water 3x whilst priest says "I baptise you..."
     • 7. Baby places on clean white sheet.
     • 8. Confirmation: priest makes sign of cross with oil on parts of baby saying "receive the sign and seal of the Holy Spirit".
     • 9. Priest cuts small piece of hair from baby's head to show that Christ is now the head of baby.
     • 10. Baby is dressed in new white clothes, is given baptismal candle and is carried 3x around font.
     • 11. Baby receives communion.
   • Anyone can perform a baptism.
     • They must have the intent to baptise.
     • Must use water.
     • Must say: "I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".

2. Baptism with water

   • All baptism involves water and the recitation of the words "I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".
   • Commanded by Jesus, so it is a DOMINICAL SACRAMENT.
   • Signifies:
     • Washing away of original sin.
     • Dying to sin and being born into new life.
     • Copying Jesus' baptism by John.
     • Joining the church community.
   • Seen as:
     • Reception of the gift of salvation.
     • Reception into church (font at door)
     • Receiving gift of resurrection and new life (candle from Easter candle).

3. Adult (Believer's) Baptism (credobaptism) - follows practice of early church..

   • Baptist and Pentecostal churches.
     • People not baptised until old enough to make own declaration of faith with full understanding of what it means.
     • Normally baptised as adult or teenager
     • Confirmation part of baptism rite.
   • Service:
     • 1. Person being baptised usually makes short speech about how God has helped - TESTIMONY
     • 2. They make baptismal promises to reject evil and turn to Christ. They declare their own faith in God, by answering Q's or by reciting Creed.
     • 3. Baptised in large pool by minister, pushed under water 1x/3x saying "I baptise you..."
     • Baptising a person this way is called BAPTISM BY TOTAL IMMERSION.
     • 4. Minister lays hands on candidate's head to complete service by confirming them.

4. Dedication.

   • Ceremony takes place in Baptist and Pentecostalist churches where baptism for babies is not available.
   • Service:
     • 1. Parents + sponsors bring baby to church during normal service.
     • 2. Invited to front of church, minister leads prayers for baby and family.
     • 3. They thank God for birth of child and ask for them to be kept safe from harm and raised in a loving family to be good Christians.
     • 4. Parents and sponsors promise to raise child as Christian.
     • 5. Minister says prayer of dedication, offering child to God as a gift and promising that church will help look after child and family.

5. Confirmation

   • RCC + CofE churches use it. People aged 14+ can take on promises made on their behalf at birth.
   • Involves period do preparation (confirmation classes) which may include a time of withdrawal and reflection called a RETREAT. People being prepared are called CATECHUMENS.
   • Service:
     • Bishop conducts confirmation.
     • 1. Candidates make promises of baptism themselves.
     • 2. Bishop lays hands on candidate and confirms them saying "Confirm, O Lord, this is your child with your Holy Spirit". Imitates process that Christians have followed since time of Peter.
     • 3. They are anointed with Chrism oil.
     • 4. After confirmation, they are welcomed to receive bread and wine at every Communion service.

6. Adult reception into membership

   • If an adult wants to join a church, it depends whether they are baptised members of another church.
     • 1. NOT baptised members of another church - have to do period of preparation then be baptised and confirmed into new church.
     • 2. ARE baptised members of another church and want to join one which also practices infant baptism - attend new church, attend period of training, confirmed into new church. Previous confirmations may not be recognised.
     • 3. If they were baptised as infants & want to join church which practices believers baptism - attend period of training, are baptised again because these churches don't believe infant baptism is valid.
     • 4. Whether baptised or not as infant and wish to join a church that doesn't practice baptism at all, they just go along and sign up as members.
     • 5. RCC church has special process for adults who wish to join church, "The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults" (RCIA). This includes a long period of learning and a 4 stage process at the end of which the person becomes full member of RCC.