Baptism is a time for celebration for baptism assures us that we belong to God. Our greatest comfort in life and in death is that we belong to our faithful Saviour Jesus Christ (Living Faith 7.6)
Why is it such a joyous occasion? In our faith, baptism is a sacrament by which we enter into the life of the church as God’s people and are marked as Christians, followers of Jesus Christ.
Within the Presbyterian Church in Canada, we baptize people of all ages during public services of worship.
If you wish to be baptized – or if you wish for your child to be baptized – please contact Rev. Wendy or a church elder. The request for baptism will then come to the session for approval. In the Presbyterian tradition, one parent seeking baptism for their infant/child (or grandparents for their grandchild) must be professing members of St. Paul’s or another Christian Church and actively fulfilling the call of their own baptism, as well as committed to ensuring their child have opportunity to grow into their baptism calling and relationship with God.
Some Christian churches do not baptize infants, believing to wait until they are of an age of understanding where they can make a personal confession of faith themselves. In the Presbyterian tradition, we also support baptisms that are accompanied by a personal profession of faith. Those who believe, repent of their sins and commit themselves to Christ, may be baptized.
But here are reasons why we also support the baptism of infants as well:
-
- We believe children of believing parents are also members of the covenant of grace and share in the hope of the gospel. And as members of a covenant of grace we affirm that baptism is about what God has done for us in Christ. When an infant is baptized for they cannot speak or make promises, adding even more attention to God acting first, and the infant’s faith journey that follows as a response to God’s grace.
- During Jesus’ ministry, he blessed people based on the faith of others. For example, he healed sick people not on the basis of their faith, but on the faith demonstrated by their family and friends who believed for them when they were not in a position to express their faith. A child who is baptized is baptized on the sure promise of God and the faith and promises of the parents and the congregation. It is the duty and responsibility of those making promises to do their part, God being their helper, to nurture a child in the faith.
- In the Old Testament, we see that children were part of the covenant and shared the promises made between God and the Jewish people.
- The New Testament also speaks of household baptism, and it is presumed that this included children. It is thought that had it been a matter of debate, there might be some record of this in Scripture or other early church documents.