Get Married and Baptize Your Child at the Same Time
EmailABC's Cornelia Treptow reports from London: In an attempt to make it more relevant for the 21st Century, the Church of England will unveil a radical u-turn today on 2000 years of history and tradition. Arguably turning its back on long-held teachings, the Church is set to offer couples the opportunity to baptize their children during the same ceremony where they will tie the knot. And just in case the parents missed out, they, too, will be given the option of being baptized at the same time. Part of a range of schemes intending to modernize the Church’s image, the so-called ‘hatch ‘n’ match’ ceremonies are said to be marketed at unmarried parents to encourage them to get hitched. Other measures include exhibiting at wedding fairs, and offering workshops to help couples prepare for their services and the vows. The new services are meant to show that the Church is adopting more liberal attitudes with respect to the realities and beliefs associated with modern life. However, the Church has noted that it does not sanction having sex before marriage, and the guidelines will not force members of the clergy to perform the new 2-in-1 ceremonies if they do not feel comfortable with them. Supporters of the new ceremony claim that the new services not only modernize the Church but in tough economic times also offer couples the opportunity to save some money. Joint receptions, in particular, are being viewed as a positive thing. This has not dampened criticism of the new scheme with many believing that it is simply trivializing the role of the Church. Critics claim that the new ceremonies allow people to simply get married in the Church without accepting any of the other facets that come with belonging to the Church and its community. Some have also raised objections over the fact that these ceremonies break away from the traditions associated with them. Stephen Parkinson, from the Anglo-Catholic group Forward in Faith, told the Times of London that “the proper place for a baptism is not during a wedding but during the Sunday morning act of worship so the congregation can welcome a new Christian. It is a shame that what should be a bride’s day now stands to be hijacked by screaming kids.”
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I think it would be a great idea for the married couple to be baptized together before marriage. What an incredible commitment to God and their marriage at the same time. However the children should be baptized when they are ready, when they are committed and not before.
Posted by: John Merritt | July 23, 2009, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
It all depends on a person’s belief system. I happen to belive that all babies should be baptized early.
It can’t hurt. (Again, it all depends on your belief system.)
Posted by: ddg | July 23, 2009, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
Oh, please. Like this is going to really help them boost their numbers. Churches in general are becoming less relevant. Besides, if God is everywhere, as religion teaches us, then why do we need to go to a building to worship Him? This isn’t about true spirituality, it’s about image making. :(
Posted by: Sabrina | July 23, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
The facts aren’t even correct. The Church of England has not been in existence for 2000 years.
Posted by: Henna | July 23, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
Take the plunge, huh? How ridiculous can you get! This makes a mockery of Christ, Christianity, and Marriage!
Posted by: denn034 | July 23, 2009, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
DDG,
Why wouldn’t people go to their
place of worship to worship
their God???
Think about it,churches are called houses of God and wouldn’t it make sense to go to the house of God to praise Him, where the Spirit of God lives???
Posted by: Ruta | July 23, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
Ridiculous Religious Rituals performed over and over and the world is still in a mess, I always believed that these religions are force , how would a baby know anything about what is being done to them, no finds these gods themselves ,you have to be told about them first to recieve them , these babies have no thoughts of their own just yet but they are being subjected to these Ridiculous Religious Rituals.
Posted by: KWOLF443 | July 23, 2009, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
One has to be first & foremost SERIOUS about GOD & TRUTH before he or she takes a sincere quest for KNOWLEDGE of Christ, His Church & His Sacaments. The church mentioned in the article above, as one of the posters so rightfully stated is NOT The UNIVERSAL (Catholic) Church, which is 2000 years old. The Church of England is a splinter church, which broke away from The Church about 500 years ago and is therefore its age. The Church of England began as a state church since The King of England back then declared himself its leader, not the Successor of St. Peter, the Pope. Without a Leader, as Christ set up His ONE Church, the Church of England as well as the many other Protestant churches, have continued to splinter into literally tens of thousands of different kinds of churches. It is not unusual that no 2 of these tens of thousands of individual churches teach the same things. Indeed, The Rock of Peter has become a mere grain of sand in some of these churches disconnected from the Universal (Catholic) Church. Hence, changing Sacraments, (if celebrating them at all) interpreting Scared Scripture as one pleases, deleting or disregarding ancient ritual and doctrines, and the like are nothing unusual. One needs to ask himself or herself, Is this church & its teachings, the ONE Christ, Himself, established 2000 years ago? And based on this response, one needs to evaluate the situation in the above article. And, again, one must begin with a genuine search for God and Truth. Beyond this, KNOWLEDGE of Authentic 2000 years of Church History is key!
Posted by: Nandi | July 24, 2009, 1:52 am 1:52 am