Sacraments

I have been reflecting on the sacraments and what they mean to the body of Christ, our church. What has caused me to reflect is that I have been asked by a number of people recently about doing baptisms outside of the worship service. I have always felt that sacraments are to be done in the scheduled worship services unless there are some extra-ordinary reasons to do them elsewhere.

For myself sacraments are sacred moments that remind us of the grace that God and Jesus Christ has extended to us. The best way that we can celebrate and remember that grace is during worship. As United Methodists, we are encouraged to do the sacraments during the worship services in the presence of the congregation. Our Book of Worship states that "The Baptismal Covenant is God's word to us, proclaiming our adoption by grace, and our word to God, promising our response of faith and love. Those within the covenant constitute the community we call the Church; therefore, the services of the Baptismal Covenant are conducted during the public worship of the congregation where the person's membership is to be held, except in very unusual circumstances."

I realize that baptism is a special moment for the child, the parents, and their family. But if we believe in what we state during the covenant, we as a the body of Christ also assume responsibility in helping raise the child and to grow their faith. If the parents do not have a relationship with the church, how can we be able to help the child continue to grow in grace? My concern is that if we do family baptisms are we being faithful to what the covenant suggests. That is a major concern and the reason that I refuse to do private baptisms unless there is an unusual situation.

I would invite others to reflect on their practices either in their church or as pastors.