Supporting families coming for christenings or dedications

One of the things that can feel tricky for churches is knowing how to respond to parents and carers coming for infant baptism or dedication when you rarely if ever see the family.

In this video, recorded at our Babies and Toddlers event in May 2022, Rachel Turner suggests ways for assessing your current practice with parents and carers. Speaking from her own experience she suggests:

Understand your church’s underlying values for this and ask what do you want families coming to you to think and feel? Knowing these things will help you form your practice based on your theology and values rather than assumed process.

See this as a significant spiritual moment for the child, regardless of the faith of that child’s parents or carers. Then you can engage with the parents and carers regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. It becomes a starting point for conversations about how we (the church) can journey with and support the parents or carers as they spiritually walk along side their child.

Identify pathways for that family. We are saying: you want the best thing for your child and for us the best thing they can have is a connection with God, so we want to support you for that. Even though this may not mean going ahead with the service immediately, let them know you will be accompanying them on the journey.

Resource them for today, not the future. We sometimes give babies a bible – but they won’t be able to read it for a long time. Instead, what will enable that family to take their child on its next steps on its spiritual journey? A book like Babies and Toddlers: Nurturing your child’s spiritual life will equip their parents or carers. And tie them into relationship long term, because the church is this beautiful support that families need. Keep in touch long term, letting families know you are here for them whenever they need you.