Baptismal Integrity Resource Pages

Two Press Releases on BI Update 44

Dear Editor,

Please find enclosed a copy of Update 44 (Summer 2002) from Baptismal Integrity. I would like to suggest two ideas you might explore if you choose to include any of the material, which I have set out as possible short articles for your convenience:

Go by the book for Thanksgivings?

The current issue of Baptismal Integrity Update carries opposing views on whether clergy should use Common Worship for the service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child, or use homespun services instead.

Rev’d Stephen Corbett (Springfield, Birmingham) admits he drafted his own to replace the “liturgically and pastorally inadequate” ASB service. “The lack of a naming, a central act and of a role for the godparents of folk religion was keenly felt”, he says, but these elements “are present in the new service, and its tone is similar to my own effort anyway.”

But Rev’d Malcolm Hill (Lee, Southwark) has a string of complaints about CW, including its lack of naming, lack of specific prayers about parenting, inadequate words for giving the gospel, and failure to commission the “supporting friends” to support the child. “By all means use the very thin, second-rate and expensive CW if you wish”, he says, “but in the spirit of CW let’s get into creating our own personalised services to give the best possible.”

Readers can consult the Baptismal Integrity web site at www.baptism.org.uk

ENDS

Thanksgivings are christenings too.

Rev’d Malcolm Hill (Lee, Southwark), writing in the current issue of Baptismal Integrity Update, makes a plea for the retention of the broader meaning of christening. “Christen means ‘bring to Christ’, and the Thanksgiving is as much a Christening as Baptism,” he says. “In fact it is more so, because we know that Christ did this with children. But Common Worship says Baptism is Christening, thereby undermining the Thanksgiving service. The heart of the Thanksgiving is Mark 10:13-16, and Common Worship does not even bother to print it.”

Rev’d John Hartley (Eccleshill, Bradford) makes the same point, in a reprint of his letter to David Beckham recommending a Thanksgiving for David’s son Brooklyn: “Your local church might tell you about ‘baptism’ if you mention christening. My advice is: Go for the other christening option. It’s called ‘Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child’.”

Readers can consult the Baptismal Integrity web site at www.baptism.org.uk

ENDS.

We would be quite happy for you to reprint articles or extracts, but would ask you to acknowledge the source. If you would like any further help (perhaps in the writing of a precis of some article), I will be very pleased to do what I can - please do not hesitate to ask me.

With all best wishes,

yours sincerely,

	Baptismal Integrity Go to the index of other articles to do with Baptismal Integrity. Go to John's Brinkster Home Page. This is a letter to be sent to newspapers with a copy of BI Update 44.
	Two Press Releases on BI Update 44 Dear Editor, Please find enclosed a copy of Update 44 (Summer 2002) from Baptismal Integrity. I would like to suggest two ideas you might explore if you choose to include any of the material, which I have set out as possible short articles for your convenience: Go by the book for Thanksgivings? The current issue of Baptismal Integrity Update carries opposing views on whether clergy should use Common Worship for the service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child, or use homespun services instead. Rev’d Stephen Corbett (Springfield, Birmingham) admits he drafted his own to replace the “liturgically and pastorally inadequate” ASB service. “The lack of a naming, a central act and of a role for the godparents of folk religion was keenly felt”, he says, but these elements “are present in the new service, and its tone is similar to my own effort anyway.” But Rev’d Malcolm Hill (Lee, Southwark) has a string of complaints about CW, including its lack of naming, lack of specific prayers about parenting, inadequate words for giving the gospel, and failure to commission the “supporting friends” to support the child. “By all means use the very thin, second-rate and expensive CW if you wish”, he says, “but in the spirit of CW let’s get into creating our own personalised services to give the best possible.” Readers can consult the Baptismal Integrity web site at www.baptism.org.uk ENDS Thanksgivings are christenings too. Rev’d Malcolm Hill (Lee, Southwark), writing in the current issue of Baptismal Integrity Update, makes a plea for the retention of the broader meaning of christening. “Christen means ‘bring to Christ’, and the Thanksgiving is as much a Christening as Baptism,” he says. “In fact it is more so, because we know that Christ did this with children. But Common Worship says Baptism is Christening, thereby undermining the Thanksgiving service. The heart of the Thanksgiving is Mark 10:13-16, and Common Worship does not even bother to print it.” Rev’d John Hartley (Eccleshill, Bradford) makes the same point, in a reprint of his letter to David Beckham recommending a Thanksgiving for David’s son Brooklyn: “Your local church might tell you about ‘baptism’ if you mention christening. My advice is: Go for the other christening option. It’s called ‘Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child’.” Readers can consult the Baptismal Integrity web site at www.baptism.org.uk ENDS. We would be quite happy for you to reprint articles or extracts, but would ask you to acknowledge the source. If you would like any further help (perhaps in the writing of a precis of some article), I will be very pleased to do what I can - please do not hesitate to ask me. With all best wishes, yours sincerely,
	Go to the index of other articles to do with Baptismal Integrity. Go to John's Brinkster Home Page. This web page was last updated on 27th June 2002.