Baptism
Baptism is the foundational sacrament for
Christians. In recent years there has been renewed interest in examining its significance, and how we approach its practice.
As part of the Diocese's links with the Church of Sweden Diocese of Uppsala (more info here) a Baptism Review Group* (BRG) has begun work on attitudes and approaches to the sacrament.
Members of the BRG are willing to come to parishes or Deaneries to discuss the issues arising out of the review.
On this page are items and links to some of the material related to this investigation.
NEW
Pearls of Life, a prayer bracelet from Sweden.
A great resource for baptism and confirmation preparation and follow up.
CME Day - Baptism, Ministry and Christian Identity
pdf files of slide shows available here: Key Questions, and Theology.
Book: Connecting with Baptism
Connecting with Baptism is a comprehensive and accessible companion resource to help clergy and lay leaders unpack Christian initiation pastorally, practically and theologically.
In a down-to-earth and stimulating way it provides an enormous amount of practical help, background information and suggestions for clergy and lay leaders involved in taking policy decisions, providing pastoral care and using the initiation services.
Written from a wealth of pastoral and liturgical experience, it covers the whole scope of Christian initiation, including baptism and confirmation.
Topics covered include:
* Infant baptism
* Connecting initiation with mission and evangelism
* The role of godparents
* Preparing adults for Christian initiation
* Helping those who are baptized or confirmed to grow in faith
* Christian initiation in Fresh Expressions of church
The guide includes real-life stories, discussion starters and helpful cross-references to other sections in the text and the Bible.
Publisher: Church House Publishing
Review from “Christian today”
The place of baptism in the life of the nation and the Church has changed significantly in the last century, a new book from the Church of England has found.
In Connecting with Baptism, experienced Church ministers explore the most recent statistics and research into the role of baptism in the Church, revealing:
Significantly more infant baptisms as a proportion of births take place in rural dioceses such as Carlisle, Hereford and Lincoln than in urban areas.
Fewer than 20 per cent of infants under one year old are baptised today compared to 65 per cent in 1900, while the numbers of older children and adults getting baptised has risen from 11,000 in 1900 to 46,200 in 2004.
"The families bringing their children for baptism today represent a significant section of society with a past Church connection, open to the Church's message and the idea of getting involved again - and churches are developing effective ways of capturing and nurturing this interest," said the Church of England.
For some families today, the baptism of a child represents an opportunity for the first public acknowledgement of the parents' relationship, and churches can use this as an opportunity to promote marriage.
Connecting with Baptism blends an accessible explanation of the Church's policy on baptism and the theology underpinning it with close attention to the details of preparation, planning, choreographing and following-up of baptisms for infants, children and adults.
It covers topics including the role of godparents; helping those who are baptised to grow in faith; and Christian initiation in fresh expressions of Church.
In an innovative design format for Church House Publishing, Connecting with Baptism is also divided into sections with biblical and liturgical references displayed in a wide side margin, and helpful links to other relevant sections of the book clearly marked to help readers dip into the text as a reference book as well as a scholarly work prompting reflection on what the Church says and does in baptism.
The book - edited by the Ven Trevor Lloyd, former Archdeacon of Barnstaple, the Rev Mark Earey, Liturgy Tutor at Queen's College Birmingham, and Canon Ian Tarrant, Senior Anglican Chaplain at the University of Nottingham - argues that baptism is about "starting as you mean to go on" within the Christian faith.
It also argues that baptism should lie at the heart of all that the Church does, a critical "integrity between sacrament and life" which should constantly be demonstrated by the Church.
The Rt Rev Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester, says: "Baptism is recovering its place at the heart of Christian life and liturgy. But there is a huge gap between some of our baptismal practice and the rich possibilities Common Worship envisages. Connecting with Baptism is a comprehensive tool for bridging that gap. Every parish should use it."
Grove Books
Some of the Grove series that are especially appropriate:
P 116 Preaching at Baptism
W 165 Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child A Commentary on the Common Worship Service
W 124 The Renewal of Baptismal Vows
W 20 A Case for Infant Baptism
W 134 Joining God's Church An Introduction to 'On The Way' (Adult Initiation)
* Group members: The Revds Peter Cox, Irving Hamer, Michael Komor, Peter Lewis, David Sheene, David Treharne