How does an adult get christened

[jaynel]

Hi, i am a god parent to 2 children, i was never asked if i was christened at that time. My sister in law has just asked me to be my niece's godparent, i was over the moon and agreed. The vicar went to see her for a chat and said as im not christened, i can not be a proper godparent and i wont be allowed to give my promise at the service. so i have decided to get christened, i have to keep this a secret from my parents as my dad is turkish and his parents are muslims. will he have to know?. Also i have seen pictures of adults getting christened in a swimming pool and they get drenched is this true?. If not what would happen?. Both my dd and ds arent christened and i would like them to be but my dad would not come to the christening and he said he would disown me if i did. what do i do?

Adult baptism in the Anglican church is very like infant baptism - it's a symbolic sploshing of water on your head and the making of some serious promises, not total immersion.

I must admit that baptism is a big faith step though, and if you haven't felt the need to do it before I'm not entirely convinced about you being harried into it just so you can be a godparent, especially when you're an aunt to the baby already. But that's your call.

Do you really want to be baptised for yourself though? Would it mean anything to you? If you are going to be baptised into the C of E or Catholic churches then you have a ceremony muh like for babies, the vicar will cross you head with water and you make various promises.Your dad would not have to know, you are an adult it is up to you what you do.
Its a shame your friends vicar said those things, my kids have a godparent who isn't christened but it made no difference at all, you could probably have fibbed and said you were!!

You don't have to be baptised by total immersion, you can just have a bit of water splashed onto your head. I was baptised as an adult, although I don't have that faith now, and was given the choice of total immersion (in a sheep dip, of all things ) or a symbolic sprinkling of water.

No-one needs to know if you don't want them to. You have to have a couple of "sponsors" (a bit like godparents) who make promises to help you, but otherwise you don't have to have anyone else there.

However, some ministers will only baptise you if you have done a course of Bible study, if they are sure your faith is strong, and if they feel you are ready for baptism. They may refuse to baptise you simply so that you can be a godparent. You would have to have a chat with the minister about your reasons for wanting to be baptised, and it's up to him whether he will do it or not.

agree with MrsBadger - it is a big step - don't just do it because you think you should or someone else said you should.

The best thing you could do is go along to a local church and spaek to a minister about it - you would probably have to go through some programme of preparation.

As for your Dad's issues - that's something you will have to deal with!

don't do it if you dont believe in Christ. You can write your own promise and frame it for the child. Promise your friend you will be there for the child if anything should happen.

a godparents role is to ensure that the faith of the child continues, not - as is a common misconception - that you will look after the child after the parents death.

if you do belive in Christ - then your church will probably want you to go to some lessons - bible stuff before you get christened. but they will welcome you with open arms.

However, this leaves your father - a wrestle between your faith and your father! the only real answer is - that this is a huge huge step not to be taken lightly - certainly not to be kept a secret - IMo, this desparages the memory of all the peole who died for their beliefs. so the anser is your faith must come before your father.

faith comes before everything - as a muslim your father knows this.

i do agree,i know it sound like i am just doing it to be a godparent but it's also for my children, i want them to be christened, my dd is very religous and she is always asking to be christened, i would do it for them to give them a better future. i dont want her hating me for not letting her do what she wants, i am very upset with my dad for saying this to me, i dont want her feeling the same.

So it's not because you have a personal committment to Christ at all then, just so you can be a godparent and get your kids christened?

When your dd is old enough to understand the promises she is making she can choose to be baptised and/or confirmed herself - you don't need to be baptised for her to do that, it's between her and God.

I'm guessing you go to church, so I'd suggest speaking to your minister (not the one who's doing your niece's christening) about your thoughts. He may have any number of helpful suggestions, including how dd can develop her relationship without God until she's ready to be baptised and/or confirmed on her own behalf.

forget all this minister business you need a priest - go large - go catholic!

I think you are very brave and I am sure you have plenty of understanding of what you are doing. Certainly more than most babies.

Different christian churches baptise/ christian people in different ways. It depends a lot on their traditions.

At our C of E church adults attend a series of classes and are confirmed and baptised in the same service. The classes will allow you to explore your faith without any commitment.

why does your dd want to be christened? i agree with what people have written here. baptism (which christening is...) is a profession of faith in Jesus which then links you to the christian church as a whole. your dd can decide when she is older what she would like to do (depending how old she is now, that is). as for you, it's great you are interested - you can start reading the bible yourself and also talk to other people you trust about their beliefs, and maybe take a course if there is one on offer and then decide to get baptised if you want to. but it is a serious thing to do, and not something for outward appearances.

I would agree with the other posters. Baptism is an public display of your relationship with Christ. This is not something that should be done lightly. I am Baptist. We like the submersion and it is not done when we are babies but at a time of our choosing.I have to say the swimming pool thing I have never heard of.

jaynel, would you like me to pray for you?

It must be really hard if you have christian belief and your parents are Muslims.