Clint Houlahan Word Count 700
The Christian rites Of Passage
I have chosen to do Baptism as my Christian rite of passage. Baptism is a sacrament and only the Quakers and ___________ do no perform this Christian rite of passage. Baptism is a rite of purification by water, an initiation service far the candidate who is taking part in the Infant service. There are 3 different types of baptism, infant, believers and christmation. Each of these is done differently depending on the church.
For the Church of England Infant baptism the child is usually accompanied with its parents and their sponsors, godparents, the parents and godparents are asked to pray for, draw them by their example into the Christian faith and walk with them in the way of the Christ. Infant baptism candidates can also be adults who have not been baptised as a child as most churches look at baptism is an initial welcoming to the church, in the Church of England this is usually done at a young age to christen the baptismal name, at a young age the child is unable to speak far themselves so the parents and godparents are asked to do this. The parents and godparents are then asked to speak on behalf of the child by saying they will reject the temptation of the devil and turn to Christ far support and guidance. The president, or another minister, then signs the child with a cross and asks them to become a disciple of Christ and to fight against sin and the devil. A prayer is then said over the water and then the profession of faith is read, this is the creed. Finally the minister addresses the parents and sponsors with the commission, which explains that the church will also help, with the parents, to bring the child up into the Christian faith. This means as part of the church they all have to support them by prayer, example and teaching. This is just the Church of England’s way of service; other churches like the orthodox have the baptism and christmation in the same service.
