We at St. Matthew's want you and your family to enjoy fully the privilege of Christian Baptism. Some explanations are therefore offered here, and classes are required for those who come to Baptism.

Baptism in the Episcopal Church is full initiation into Christ's Body the Church and is offered both to adults and children.

Since most Episcopal Baptisms are of children, we need to give this special consideration. There is only one reason for baptizing a child in the name of Jesus Christ - the parents have made Jesus Christ head of their household. Such families have a special relationship (called the New Covenant) to God in which they want their children to share. The Lord Jesus has given Baptism as the outward sign of the relationship.

Baptism is the sign of belief in Jesus. It symbolizes burial and resurrection, and thus is the mark of a believer's identification with Christ. Logically, Baptism ought to follow belief, which is the case with adult Baptism. But coming out of the Jewish tradition of Circumcision, Christian parents include their children in the external expressions of faith. The Scripture promises that if we "train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old enough he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). And thus for centuries parents have had their children baptized in the confidence that God will help them bring these same children into a mature, vibrant Christian faith.

Godparents (or "sponsors") stand with the parents and adult candidates and join them in promising to do all in their power to insure the Christian nurture of a child presented for Baptism. In the event of such tragedy that the parents cannot fulfill their promises, the responsibility falls to the godparents. Godparents may be of any Christian denomination, but must be believing, practicing, participating, and baptized members willing to carry out the promises made in the service.

In our Baptismal Service, the whole congregation joins the parents, godparents and sponsors in promising to support the candidate. This underscores the importance of sharing such an event with the "Family of the Church" (rather than having it a private affair).

The following are some guidelines for baptism at St. Matthew's:

1. The first step is to contact one of the clergy to talk about the baptism and to obtain confirmation that we will, in fact, perform the baptism.

2. You must have at least one Godparent or "sponsor" who is a baptized Christian for each person to be baptized. There is no limit on the number of sponsors, but logistics make more than six difficult, and it also becomes less meaningful.

3. A short course of Baptismal preparation in required of the parents and adult candidates. Godparents and sponsors are also strongly encouraged to attend the session, usually 1-1/2 hours Saturday morning prior to the Baptism.

4. At St. Matthews, we attempt to follow the General Church's guidelines that Baptism be reserved for the following times:
   • Holy Saturday (the day before Easter)
   • Pentecost (usually late May or early June)
   • All Saints Day (November 1, Sunday following)
   • Baptism of Our Lord (early January)
   • Bishop's visitation (usually late February)
   • St. Matthew's Day (late September)