Holy Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament. It’s a sign of God’s grace and love acting in our lives. Through baptism, a person becomes a member of the Church and commits themselves to a life of following Christ. Different Christian traditions have different baptismal practices, but every Christian baptism has two things in common. Water and the name of the Holy Trinity.

Why should I get baptized?

Baptism is a sign of God’s grace and love in our lives. It’s not that different from that first kiss between two lovers or between a parent and their newborn child. It seals the relationship and acts as a physical sign to the world that this person’s life has been turned over to Christ. Baptism does not by itself make God love you. It does not automatically save you from the fires of Hell. It does not establish the godparents as legal guardians should the parents die. But it does seal the relationship between the person being baptized, God, and the Church (the people of God).

Does the Episcopal Church baptize infants?

Sure. Just as we baptize adults. We baptize adults who are drawn to the love of God and have never been baptized before. We baptize infants even though they can’t speak for themselves because we see it as a mark of belonging, and you don’t have to understand what’s going on in order to belong. In the same way, when parents bring a baby back from the hospital, the baby has no understanding of family, but they are definitely a welcome and beloved part of that family.

Do I need to be a member of St. James’ to get baptized or have my child baptized?

While it is not strictly required to be a member of the parish in order to have a child baptized, it is required that you attend church regularly. After all, if baptism is all about belonging to the church and committing to follow Christ with the church, how can you not attend regularly? To put it another way, if you have no intention of attending on a regular, ongoing basis, what’s the point of having your child baptized?

I would like to get my child baptized. How should I go about doing this?

It’s important to understand that baptism is not just a ceremony – it is a spiritual commitment on behalf of the parents and the congregation – before God – to care for and raise a child as a Christian. It is not something to be entered into lightly and is definitely not something we on short notice.

Baptism is administered during Sunday worship, and there are four special days each year when Baptism is especially appropriate: the Easter Vigil, Pentecost, All Saints’ Day, and the Baptism of the Lord (the first Sunday after Epiphany). What’s more, we do not offer Baptism (or weddings) during Lent.

If you would like to be baptized or have your child baptized, please speak to Mother Meredith!

Does the Episcopal Church offer private baptism?

As a general rule, no. We believe that baptism marks the entrance of a new member into our Christian community, and we believe that the community should be a part of this joyous occasion. After all, you wouldn’t want to join a family when the family isn’t present.

If you have special circumstances that prevent you from being able to be at the church, or if there is a medical emergency, then private baptism may be necessary. However, you should contact the clergy for more information about that.

I was baptized in another Christian denomination. Do I need to be re-baptized?

As long as you were baptized with water and in the name of the Trinity (The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), then no, you don’t. We recognize all Christian baptism. Period.

I am not sure if I have been baptized. What should I do?

If you’re not sure (for example, if you think you might have been baptized as an infant but can’t find any information about it, or if you’re unsure whether the name of the Trinity was used, the Episcopal Church offers what is know as “Conditional Baptism.” Essentially, it’s saying, “If you haven’t been baptized already, then we now baptize you.”

Does the Episcopal Church practice immersion baptism?

Sure. It’s not required, and it’s pretty rare, but there’s no reason not to do it other than practicality. Most Episcopal Churches have fonts for pouring water over the person being baptized (this is called affusion), usually just covering their head. But there are Episcopal Churches with baptistries that make immersion possible. St. James’, however, has a small font.

Please note that we do not believe it matters how the water touches the person being baptized, nor do we believe that every inch of the person must be covered. Baptism is a sign, not magic.

What should I or my child wear?

There is a wonderful phrase in the church: adiaphora. It means “indifferent things.” But what it really means is, “It’s no big thing.” What you or your child wear is entirely up to you. Sometimes people dress infants in special “christening” gowns or family heirloom gowns, but that’s purely a matter of personal preference. What we care about is that you’re here.

What is a Sponsor/Godparent? Who can be one? How many do I need?

A sponsor or godparent is someone who promises to accompany you on your walk with Christ. They promise, if godparents of a child, to act as guides and examples. Godparents are themselves baptized Christians, active in their own church and rooted in the faith. Because it is important that the godparent be present in the spiritual life of the child, we strongly urge you to have at least one of the godparents be a member of St. James’. But don’t worry! There is no limit to the number of sponsors/godparents that you can have. So if you have relatives who absolutely must be a godparent, you can still do this while fulfilling the obligation of having a member of the parish. And if you’re still getting to know us here at St. James’ and are worried about finding a godparent/sponsor in the parish, our clergy are happy to help you connect.