What do we believe about Baptism?
“We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.”
The prayer of the congregation immediately after the baptism (BCP, page 308)
Baptism in the Episcopal Church is not so much about what we do or believe, but about how much God does for and believes in us. Baptism for adults and older children is absolutely an act of agency and choice, choosing to be adopted by Jesus Christ and dying and rising with Christ.
But we also know that infants and young children can be baptized because their caregivers and godparents make promises on behalf of these little ones to raise them in the faith, to seek to honor the dignity of every human being, and to teach them to love one another by the power of the Spirit.
Want a deeper dive?
Baptism is dying and rising with Christ; it is being adopted into the household of God; it is a covenant we make or that is made on behalf of a child to raise them in honoring the dignity and worth of every human being. It also has a long and complex theological history, and in this podcast episode our Vicar, Lizzie, and her friend and fellow Episcopal priest Mother Laura Di Panfilo explore this history and theology.
What do I need to do to be baptized or have my kiddo baptized at Jubilee?
Every body is welcome to the Body of Christ as enfleshed at Jubilee.
Caregivers/parents of kiddos to be baptized will need to meet once with our Vicar, Father Lizzie, and then we will set a date for the Baptism to take place, ideally during Sunday morning worship.
For adults & teens, you’re invited to take our Confirmation class and/or find some one-on-one time to meet with Father Lizzie to talk through the service. Then we pick a Sunday morning that theologically fits and works with your schedule to get you baptized!
We believe strongly in one baptism in the name of the Trinity. If, however, you have been baptized before but would like a ritual remembering your baptism, or a moment to acknowledge a new name or gender identity, let’s talk — we can definitely do something beautiful to honor this sacred change.
A note: We are an LGBTQIA+ affirming and celebratory congregation, so while baptism does involve renouncing our sins, being LGBTQIA+ is not a sin. So the sins you repent of in baptism? Are the same sins the rest of us mortals partake of.
