Baptism

In The Episcopal Church, baptism is a public ritual in which a person is formally initiated into the Christian faith by being baptized with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This signifies their entrance into the Church community and their adoption into God’s family. Baptism is considered a full initiation into Christ’s body—the church—and is typically performed by pouring water over the candidate, with sponsors present to represent them if they are an infant or young child. 

Key points about baptism in The Episcopal Church:

Meaning:  Baptism symbolizes a washing away sin and a new beginning in Christ. 

Who can be baptized: People of all ages can be baptized, including infants, children, and adults. 

Sponsorship: Baptized church members act as sponsors for the candidate, making promises on their behalf if they cannot do so themselves.  You might also know them as God Parents.  

Baptismal Covenant: During the ceremony, the candidate or their sponsors affirm the Baptismal Covenant, which outlines the promises of Christian life.  The Baptismal Covenant is found in the Book of Common Prayer 1979 on page 304.  You can see the online book of Book of Common Prayer 1979 here! 

Community involvement: Baptism is a communal faith community event where the congregation welcomes the newly baptized member. 

If you or someone you know is interested in baptism or has questions about it, please contact our priest at 808-955-7745 ext. 108 or email them here.