Baptizing Minors...

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I didn't say there was ... just curious on how this would be explained to the child who could be emotionally traumatized thinking they are hell-bound ...

that's pretty serious ... if you ask me.

Your thoughts.

I agree. As a Sunday School teacher of primary age children, I understand that the children in my class are just starting to both understand and begin acting on their understanding. I tread very carefully, because I want them to make informed decisions on their own. I have yet to encounter an objecting parent, so I really don't have a clue how I'd proceed.

A child does need to understand sin and its consequences, as well as its solution, which does make a decision blocked by a parent very difficult indeed.

I think that perhaps the right move would be to encourage the child to pray for their parents, that God will change their mind. Beyond that...I really don't know.

I remember as a preteen, I was involved in the bus ministry in my Dad's church. We had a 7 year old boy who had been coming for quite awhile, who was very involved in church, had repented in the altar, but had never been baptized. He was struck by a car on his way to school one morning (walking), and was killed. My Dad preached his funeral. I was traumatized with terrible thoughts that he was lost, and no one really made me feel any better about it. Now that I'm older, I am confident in a just God, but...I do get what you're saying about child psyches.

[Sept5SavedTeen]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

In my research, I have reopened the possiblity of a valid infant baptism - something thousands of my Radical Reformer predecessors rejected and gave their lives for.

Can you elaborate?

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Sept5SavedTeen

Can you elaborate?

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

No I don't much care to - since the discussion would quickly get blurred by folks sharing personal anecdotes.

I am in favor of an adult believers baptism. Baptism of babies/small children - I am just not sure about. Many arguements used against infant baptism also apply to baptisim of three year olds.

I do know He is the source of all faith, and His grace is sufficient!

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I'd imagine if ... salvation was in the balance ... I wouldn't worry about having the proper paper work.

not just for the sake of paper work
but
a minor needs parental permission to have his/her ears pierced
and to receive medication at school.

If a teenager (or younger) wants to be baptized, I think we need parental permission. Now, if the parents are part of the church it might just be verbal but if the parents are not part of the church, there might be legal repercussions
if you baptize their minor child.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

If the parents won't give permission for their minor child to be baptized, I would not go against their wishes.

Nor would I be at all concerned that God would not grant her eternal life because of this.

I agree

[Sam]

I faced a situation something like that a couple of years ago. I visited an elderly man in his home to pray for him. (By the way we don't visit in a home or hospital to pray for someone without their permission). I had visited his wife in a local hospital several months before to pray for her after knee surgery.

This couple were practicing Roman Catholic and their adult daughter had been immersed at the Vineyard church. They expressed unhappiness that their daughter had been immersed and "joined that church" since they had her "baptized" as a baby and had raised her Catholic. I talked a little about how baptism in the first century church was by immersion for believers and later changed over the years to include infant baptism. I told them that what their daughter did was not a repudiation of her baptism as a baby but was actually a validation of what they had done by having her baptized and by raising her in a Christian environment. I told them that what they had done was admirable. They had their child baptized as an act of dedication to God and as a public symbol of their vows to raise her in the Church. She had no say in that infant baptism. Now she was an adult (in her thirties) and she had made a personal decision to serve God. Her choosing to be publicly baptized by immersion was a public declaration of her decision to dedicate her life to God and to live for him. They seemed to accept that.

[jaxfam6]

Originally Posted by Sam

I faced a situation something like that a couple of years ago. I visited an elderly man in his home to pray for him. (By the way we don't visit in a home or hospital to pray for someone without their permission). I had visited his wife in a local hospital several months before to pray for her after knee surgery.

This couple were practicing Roman Catholic and their adult daughter had been immersed at the Vineyard church. They expressed unhappiness that their daughter had been immersed and "joined that church" since they had her "baptized" as a baby and had raised her Catholic. I talked a little about how baptism in the first century church was by immersion for believers and later changed over the years to include infant baptism. I told them that what their daughter did was not a repudiation of her baptism as a baby but was actually a validation of what they had done by having her baptized and by raising her in a Christian environment. I told them that what they had done was admirable. They had their child baptized as an act of dedication to God and as a public symbol of their vows to raise her in the Church. She had no say in that infant baptism. Now she was an adult (in her thirties) and she had made a personal decision to serve God. Her choosing to be publicly baptized by immersion was a public declaration of her decision to dedicate her life to God and to live for him. They seemed to accept that.

you're as smoooooooth as chocolate. REALLY nice rich expensive chocolate.

[ForeverBlessed]

Originally Posted by TreyKerux

Do you have a form letter to the parents after the young person has expressed interest in baptism and a permission slip...even if the parent it going to be present at the baptism(just for liability sake... some nuts out there will lie their tales off if they think they can get some money)? Care to share said letters/slips? lol


Also what type of things would you say when you goto the parents and talk to them about their young person wanting to get baptized?

I ask all of this because a young person in my group wants to get baptized and Pastor told me to "follow proper protocols" and when asked to clarify he just mentioned a slip and a letter and taking a trip to the parents house....

I'm excited about the first person in my youth group to get baptized....and I wanna make sure everything is kosher as we dunk her in Jesus Name

I think it is a good thing to get written permission.

My girls have brought several friends to church over the years... they've received the Holy Ghost and asked to be baptized... I ask for written permission from parents before it is done... unless the parents are willing to come witness it..and that has happened before. I have always given the written permission to pastor when they record the baptism... I just want to be safe with that.

When baptizing minors, make sure they are taller than the water or that they can swim. Otherwise don't leave them unattended

[Baron1710]

I must first say that this is not legal advice.

I kicked the question around the office and no one could come up with a legitimate reason for a parent to prevail in a lawsuit however that would not stop someone from filing a lawsuit and the church or the pastor having to pay to defend it.

It would be a advisable to receive WRITTEN parental consent prior to the baptism of a minor. Verbal consent becomes a battle of credibility. I would not reserve parental consent forms just for those whose parents are not involved in the church. From a legal standpoint that consent form helps cover your backside. It does not cover you if you hold the child under until they drown. Consent does not apply to negligent conduct.