Baptism as non church members?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Catholic Church might do it.

The Catholic church requires a class.

Baptist will do it if you just walk in but I don't believe they baptise infanta or very young children.

[Anonymous]

Lutheran churches require one parent to be a member and require a class for the parents. In Lutheranism and I think many other denominations, baptism is a "means of grace" meaning a pathway for God's grace to come into the baptized person's life. It is also a communal commitment to raise the child in the faith - the parents as well as the congregation make vows to this effect. It doesn't really make sense if you are not a member of the community.

[Anonymous]

We didn't have to take "classes" for our Episcopal church. We had been going to church there, though. Not sure what it means to be a "member" - as a PP said, they had my name and phone number.

Not all churches are super formal. In our church, you don't have to be super dressed up, we have a nursery for the babies and a Sunday school from 3 up. Children are welcome at the service. There's a decent number of "frazzled" parents there, where it's clear they got up, possibly ran a comb through their hair, and came to church. The kids run around the fellowship hall after the service. One reason I kept going was having somewhere to go with other people when my kid had gotten up at five anyway.

If you're looking for Cathoilc church, go to thr Saturday evening mass . Catholics will have more requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not about the grandparents, it's something we want. DC1 was baptized at the church where I was a teacher, but I don't work there anymore. DH and I were both raised catholic, although I tend toward the episcopalian faith more now. We just don't have the energy or time to attend church right now with two very young kids. It's a struggle to shower on a Sunday morning, much less get everyone dressed and to mass. It's not about finances- I'd be happy to contribute to a parish- it's the time involved in attending classes, going to mass, etc. I'd like to take the kids when they are a bit older and church could have some meaning for them. But I'd like to get DC2 baptized as a baby; I just didn't know if there were churches that would do that without the commitment of membership.

OP, check your local parish website. You would have to do the class, but in my experience just one of you need to go. You do have to sign up in advance, for scheduling purposes.

We are military, and I had all of my kids baptized in my home parish in another state. Perhaps you can call the parish you used to teach at and see if they will baptize your child there. they might be willing even though you are not members.

Start with a phone call. It is probably less work than you think.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We didn't have to take "classes" for our Episcopal church. We had been going to church there, though. Not sure what it means to be a "member" - as a PP said, they had my name and phone number.

Not all churches are super formal. In our church, you don't have to be super dressed up, we have a nursery for the babies and a Sunday school from 3 up. Children are welcome at the service. There's a decent number of "frazzled" parents there, where it's clear they got up, possibly ran a comb through their hair, and came to church. The kids run around the fellowship hall after the service. One reason I kept going was having somewhere to go with other people when my kid had gotten up at five anyway.

If you're looking for Cathoilc church, go to thr Saturday evening mass . Catholics will have more requirements.

Lutheran, not Episcopalian, but I think most denominations have a ritual of some sort for membership. Lutherans (whose services are fairly similar to Episcopalian ones) definitely do. Being a member is more than just giving them your name and phone number.

Truly can't believe the liturgically rich Epis. church does not have a formal rite of membership.

[Anonymous]

We just don't have the energy or time to attend church right now with two very young kids.

Part of the Baptismal vows is a promise that you will "continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers." You are not ready to uphold that commitment, therefore you should not be having your child baptized at this time.

FWIW, it's really not that hard to get to church on Sunday. Find a service that starts at 10:30 or 11am. If you can't be bothered to get your family washed and dressed in that amount of time, I don't know what to tell you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not about the grandparents, it's something we want. DC1 was baptized at the church where I was a teacher, but I don't work there anymore. DH and I were both raised catholic, although I tend toward the episcopalian faith more now. We just don't have the energy or time to attend church right now with two very young kids. It's a struggle to shower on a Sunday morning, much less get everyone dressed and to mass. It's not about finances- I'd be happy to contribute to a parish- it's the time involved in attending classes, going to mass, etc. I'd like to take the kids when they are a bit older and church could have some meaning for them. But I'd like to get DC2 baptized as a baby; I just didn't know if there were churches that would do that without the commitment of membership.

OP, I do understand this. But I think you are putting the cart before the horse. You need to choose a church family now and commit to it. Look for one which at which you can see raising your kids as they get older. Go ahead and join -- now -- and then think about the baptism.

[Anonymous]

They don't take attendance at mass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don't take attendance at mass.

They do. That's one of the purposes of those little envelopes with the date and your name that you use for your donation to the collection plate.

[Anonymous]

They don't take attendance at mass.

They do at my Episcopal church. Rector has a list of members tucked into her prayer book, and checks off who is there during the readings. Saw it happen regularly when I was serving on the altar as a lay eucharistic minister.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don't take attendance at mass.

They do. That's one of the purposes of those little envelopes with the date and your name that you use for your donation to the collection plate.

And what do they do to those who don't contribute each week? Um, nothing. We probably make it to mass 6-8x a year. My kids still attend ccd each week and have received all sacraments.

Just join a parish. Go to mass or don't...your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We just don't have the energy or time to attend church right now with two very young kids.

Part of the Baptismal vows is a promise that you will "continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers." You are not ready to uphold that commitment, therefore you should not be having your child baptized at this time.

FWIW, it's really not that hard to get to church on Sunday. Find a service that starts at 10:30 or 11am. If you can't be bothered to get your family washed and dressed in that amount of time, I don't know what to tell you.

+1

[Anonymous]

Since you were both raised Catholic you can just join a parish and have the baby baptized there without any classes or nonsense. You don;t ever have to go back to that parish church if you don't want to. Baptizing in a Catholic Church for you will be the easiest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since you were both raised Catholic you can just join a parish and have the baby baptized there without any classes or nonsense. You don;t ever have to go back to that parish church if you don't want to. Baptizing in a Catholic Church for you will be the easiest.

Former Catholic here. I know in the Arlington Diocese, this varies widely and can be church specific. Example - we moved to St. Luke Parish in McLean when I was six months pregnant. Finally got around to formally registering in parish after DC was born, but there was a requirement that families had to be members for a minimum of six months prior to scheduling an infant baptism. It was scandalous to my large, traditional RC family of origin to baptize a six month old infant, but rules were rules!

I'm now a Presbyterian. When second DC was born, DH and I had been regular attendees at our new church, but NOT members. I inquired about Baptism and it couldn't have been simpler; provided bay's full name and we had a Baptism scheduled. NO classes, no meetings. I am now a full fledged church member, but it wasn't a requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Catholic Church might do it.

The Catholic church requires a class.

Baptist will do it if you just walk in but I don't believe they baptise infanta or very young children.

DH and I were both raised Catholic and didn't have to take a class when we had DD baptized. We called and made an appointment with the priest and she was baptized the following month on a Sunday afternoon. We never went to that church before her baptism or after.