3.Declaration of Faith for Parents and Godparents

Declaration of Faith for Parents and Godparents

(made by parents and godparents during the Baptism service)

Parents and godparents, the Church receives this child with joy.
Today we are trusting God for his/her growth in faith.
Will you pray for him/her,
draw them by your example into the community of faith
and walk with them in the way of Christ?
With the help of God, we will.

In baptism this child begins his/her journey in faith.
You speak for them today.
Will you care for them,
and help them to take their place within the life and worship of Christ's Church?
With the help of God, we will.

In baptism God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means becoming dead to sin and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask;

Do you turn to Christ? I turn to Christ.

Do you repent of your sins? I repent of my sins.

Do you renounce evil? I renounce evil.

If you are unsure about making the declaration of faith you should contact the one of the clergy to discuss your concerns. This will give you the opportunity to talk further about the meaning of baptism before the service or to consider choosing to postpone the baptism or have a service of thanksgiving (see below) which can be followed by baptism at a later date if you wish. Enquiring about baptism for a child can be an opportunity for parents to consider the relevance of God in their own lives, if you would like to discuss this, please contact the vicar.