Being light to the people of the Mackay region
- Baptism in the Anglican Church is a ‘sacrament’ and is open to all who seek to be baptised in the name of our Lord Jesus.
- In baptism, we thank God for the divine gift of life and publicly acknowledge God’s love. In the Anglican Church it is common to baptise babies and young children). We also welcome adults to be baptised.
- Baptisms take place on Sunday mornings, during our regular Sunday Service on the chosen Sunday of the months, but other options may be available in exceptional circumstances.
A Simple Process for Baptism in the Anglican Community of Mackay
As part of the preparation for baptism into God’s family, in the Mackay Anglican Cluster, the following will happen;
- The family make contact with the Cluster Office
- Following your initial enquiry you will be contacted by members of our Baptismal team.
- They will assist you in completing the Baptism Application Form, as well as enquiring about your preference of the church, where the baptism is to take place and establishing a suitable date for the baptism. These must be confirmed by the priest.
- They will go through the order of service and make sure you are familiar with the questions that will be asked of you. (It is good to have the godparents present if possible).
- They will answer any questions you may have, or seek to find an answer if they cannot respond directly.
FAQ
Who can be Godparents?
- Anybody can be a godparent as long as they are baptised and preferably confirmed.
- At least one of the godparents needs to be Anglican.
- The godparent needs to be a minimum of 18 years of age, i.e. mature enough to act as a godparent.
- Parents can have as many or as few godparents as they choose. Traditionally for a girl having 2 women and 1 man and for a boy having 2 men and 1 woman.
- A godparent does not involve being the legal guardian unless specifically agreed.
- Godparents can be relatives or friends.
- The godparents must be willing to make the declarations and promises set out in the service.
Shouldn’t our children make their own decisions?
Some people worry that they are imposing views on their children; but from the moment they are born, you make choices on their behalf. You don’t wait until they are old enough to ask for milk before you feed them and in the same way it is right to give them spiritual nourishment and teach them about the love of God from an early age. When they are old enough they may choose to be confirmed and make an adult affirmation of their faith.
How do we know we have faith enough?
You do not have to be a perfect Christian to want to follow Christ and it would be surprising if you never had any doubts or questions in your mind. The declarations show that you intend to do your best. In the service of baptism, the parents and the godparents must make their own faith declarations and their intention to live as a disciple of Christ. The whole church will support you with these.
What is the cost?
There is no cost for Baptism, but we suggest parents, godparents and families to donate make a “Thank Offering” to God for the ongoing mission and work of the Church. This is usually done during the service.
What if I cannot make the promises?
Some people may decide that they are unwilling or unable to make the promises, but still wish to give thanks for their child and to pray for God’s blessings throughout the child’s life. A Service of Thanksgiving is more appropriate in these circumstances. Speak to one of the priests if you would like more information about this type of service or about ways to develop your own relationship with God.
What is the difference between Baptism and christening?
In the past, the word christening has been used for baptism. Anything can be ‘christened’. For example, we christen a boat. Christening in this instance means the naming of something. Now baptism is more than naming. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit from God, not only giving us our Christ name (Christian name) but also drawing us into a relationship with God the Father through Jesus the Son. Today we no longer use the term ‘christen’.
What if a teenager or adult wants to be baptised?
This is normal practise. Talk to the priest about baptism combined with confirmation. It is never too late.
Can I be baptised again? I don’t remember anything about my baptism as a baby.
The Bible says, you can only be baptised once. There are other ways including special services to use for renewing your commitment to Christ publicly. Ask the priest.
