THE CHURCH OF ST. CLEMENT

POLICY REGARDING HOLY BAPTISM

Holy Baptism is one of the two main sacraments of the Church; the other is Holy Communion.  The 1979 Book of Common Prayer describes this ancient practice of Holy Baptism in the modern day liturgical life of the Church as the initiatory rite of the Christian community.  It is the sacrament by which God adopts us as His children making us members of Christ’s Church.  Baptism puts a seal on the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

In order for a person to be baptized, they must have a Christian representing the Church perform the rite, usually a clergyman (this requirement is not required in emergency situations).  They must have a personal faith in God through Jesus Christ.  For an infant baptism the sponsors—parents and godparents, must be Christians.  There must be water, the universal element prescribed by Christ, and the baptism into Christ’s body is done in the name of the Holy Trinity:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Before a person is baptized they will be “instructed in the meaning of Baptism” and in the case of an infant, the sponsors will be informed of “their duties to help the new Christian grow in the knowledge and love of God, and in their responsibilities as members of this Church.”  (Book of Common Prayer, pp. 302-305).  [http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/bcp.htm]

The Rite of Baptism is meant to be a public ceremony and the person’s incorporation into the Christian community is to be administered “within the Eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or feast.” (Book of Common Prayer, pp. 298).  [http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/bcp.htm]  Baptism includes the corporate commitment of the Church community to the one being baptized. For this reason, we prefer that parishioners of St. Clement not ask for private baptisms.

          The traditional baptismal days of the Christian year are:

·        The Easter Vigil

·        Day of Pentecost

·        All Saints Day

·        Feast of Baptism of our Lord (Epiphany I)

·        Visitation of the Bishop

Baptisms should not be scheduled at any other time unless approved by the Rector. 

It is important in the case of infant baptism that parents are members of St. Clement, and that they intend to bring up the child in the knowledge and love of the Lord; therefore, a child should be baptized in the parish where the parents are members.  If the parents have not made their own mature commitment to their responsibilities as members of a parish, it might mean that the child should not be baptized until such time that the parents become members of a church.

Although many baptisms done at St. Clement are for infants, we recognize that there are reasons for parents to wait on baptism for their child until he/she is able to understand the meaning of baptism and can make a mature commitment to Christ and His Church on his/her own.  At St. Clement, we honor the convictions and views of both infant and adult baptism.  The baptismal waters were meant by Christ to unite God’s people into our holy catholic and apostolic church, and children and adults are incorporated into Christ’s Church through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.