FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BAPTISMS AT ST JOHN'S

What's the difference between Christening and Baptism?

None, although there used to be.  A baby's christening used to be the naming ceremony (the bestowal of a Christian name) that accompanied the act of baptism. Nowadays, when people ask for a Christening, they're really talking about Baptism.

What is Baptism?

Baptism is one of two sacraments in the Church; the other is communion.   It represents a deliberate act of identification with the person of Jesus Christ and his Church.

What does it mean to identify with the person of Jesus Christ?

It's more than admiring Jesus as a great religious figure in history.   It's a conscious decision to let our lives be shaped by his, in the recognition that in him there is found both a "love that will not let us go" (to quote an old hymn) and a set of values and priorities that give a distinctive direction to our lives.  This decision implies a personal relationship with Jesus that requires nurturing through such things as worship, prayer, Bible study and other spiritual disciplines.

What does it mean to identify with the Church?

For all its faults and failings, the Church is a worshipping community that feels called to be the continuing presence of Jesus in the world, drawing others into his reconciling embrace.  To identify with this fallible, struggling community is to learn what grace is and to share in its mission, which is to make Jesus Christ known in word and deed.  It means being actively involved in the Church's life and worship.

How are these commitments expressed in the baptism ceremony?

With infant baptism, the parents are asked to reaffirm their faith in Jesus and to pledge that they will bring their child up in the life of the Church in the hope that in due course he/she will make a personal response of faith. At the same time, the congregation is asked, on behalf of the universal Church, to do what it can to support the parents in the fulfilment of their vows.  In practical terms, this means that the family comes under the pastoral care of the St John's in the City and is encouraged to support its Sunday School and Youth Group programmes.

The vows of parents and congregation are rendered meaningless if the parents have simply brought their child to be "done" and have no intention of sharing in the ongoing life of the church.  It is for this reason that our Presbyterian Book of Order requires the authorisation of Session (the church's elders) for the baptism of those who are not members of the congregation.  For congregational members and their children, Session's authorisation is not required.
 
In the case of adult baptism, the person being baptized is simply asked to confess his/her faith in Christ and to pledge a commitment to the life and mission of the Church.

If I was baptized as a child, can I be baptized again as an adult?

No. You are baptized only once.  Thereafter, a person will have the opportunity to make a personal declaration of faith, and may wish to do so in the context of a Confirmation service, but they do not need to be rebaptised.

What's the difference between Baptism and Dedication?

In baptism the primary focus is on God's initiative and grace (to which we - congregation and parents together - respond in faith), whereas in a dedication ceremony, the emphasis is on the parents' decision to dedicate their baby to God.  A dedication ceremony need not involve the congregation.

Can we have the baptism in our home?

No, except in cases of severe ill health.  There is no such thing as a private baptism. By its very nature it involves a congregation and will take place in the context of public worship.

If my child or I are not baptized, will we go to hell when we die?

No. Baptism is not about securing a ticket to heaven. God's love is not conditional upon a church ritual being performed.

Why bother with infant baptism?  Why not let my child grow up and make his/her own decision about God?

There is no point of neutrality when it comes to raising children and imparting personal convictions and beliefs, especially in relation to issues of faith.  It's nonsense to pretend otherwise.  The question is not how can I maintain a neutral position, but rather what kind of beliefs do I wish to impart and which tradition will best enable me to do that?  In this context, baptism is not an act of coercion but rather an act of faith.

I'm not sure what I believe about all this Jesus stuff, but I want my child baptized because I was baptized and/or I have a family connection with St John's in the City that goes back several generations. Is that ok?

The aim of giving out this information is not to dissuade people from proceeding but rather to allow them to make a decision with integrity.  Baptism should not be reduced to a quaint family tradition and the church should not be treated with disrespect.   If you are considering baptism for your child and are not a member of St John's in the City, we would encourage you to worship here for a while first to see if this is really going to be something you want your family to be part of.

We live outside Wellington, but want our child baptized at St John's in the City because that's still regarded as our "family church". Is that ok?

Yes.  But we do hope that you have an affiliation with a local church, and we will want to inform that church of the baptism so that it may include your family on its pastoral roll.

In our marriage, we come from different denominational backgrounds.   Will the baptism of our child at St John's in the City mean that we're now forever Presbyterian?

No.  Your child will be baptised not into the Presbyterian Church but rather into the universal ('catholic' is the technical term) Church.  Denominational affiliation is tied not to the act of baptism but rather to the church that you choose to associate yourself with.  This may change over time.