celebrant for non-religious "baptism"

[Anonymous]

We're having a small ceremony for our daughter to welcome her to the world. We want something non-religious. We had been thinking of "officiating" ourselves but I just think it would be more fun and lend some gravitas to the occassion if we had someone officiate.

Does anyone know of anyone who might help? I'm not looking to pay a lot (at all) and would be open to a student or intern. We live in Reston.

[Anonymous]

Are you thinking of having like a naming ceremony?

[Anonymous]

What is the ceremony part? Why not just have a party that is about welcoming her to the world. Not sure how a baptism would fit at all if it isn't connected to some belief system.

You want someone to officiate a ceremony to welcome her to the world? Why?

[Anonymous]

This sounds weird.

[Anonymous]

Have you checked out the UUs? http://www.uua.org/beliefs/congregationallife/worship/ceremonies/6976.shtml

[Anonymous]

Or Humanists: http://humanist-society.org/celebrants/

[Anonymous]

I am not getting needing an officiant part.

[Anonymous]

a non religious Baptism is best described as an oxymoron

[Anonymous]

So what is baptism going to represent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:a non religious Baptism is best described as an oxymoron

Definition of BAPTISM

1
a : a Christian sacrament marked by ritual use of water and admitting the recipient to the Christian community
b : a non-Christian rite using water for ritual purification
c Christian Science : purification by or submergence in Spirit
2
: an act, experience, or ordeal by which one is purified, sanctified, initiated, or named

[Anonymous]

OP, I would look into secular wedding officiants. I know the one I had (in NY not from around here) would do other sorts of ceremonies as well.

[Anonymous]

Wow, thanks for the judgement based on our religious beliefs. OP here. I put "baptism" in quotes because it's not what people would think of as a typical baptism. Yes, something more formal than a party to welcome her; something like a naming ceremony.

Yes, we are looking for secular officiants. Does anyone have any specific suggestions? I wouldn't mind someone who also does weddings, but I'm not really into paying a 'wedding price' (because meeting with this person over the phone or briefly in person once would be fine for me ).

[Anonymous]

Just do it yourself if you want to do it on the cheap or use one of those non-religious wedding officiants if you don't mind to pay a few bucks.

[Anonymous]

Why do you need an "officiant" if there's nothing really "official" being done during this ceremony? At a baptism or wedding, as you know, the priest or rabbi represents religious authority. But in this case, I'm not getting how this ceremony would proceed, or what you're asking from a cut-rate "officiant," apart from maybe "master of ceremony"-type functions, like giving the first toast. What is the "officiant" going to do, then?

[Anonymous]

So you want a stranger to do you a favor (for free or very cheap) that has absolutely no meaning?