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Update 47 page 4.

What "Dedication"?

Dear Sir,

I much enjoyed reading Paul Perkins' most helpful "Convergence of the Waters" in BI Update 46, but was most put off by his reference to Dedication. Dedication, as I understand it, is that which is to be seen in 1 Samuel 1:11 and 28. It nowhere appears in the ASB and CW Thanksgiving Rites: if anything, it is most clearly mirrored in the godparents' / candidate's commitment of the children / selves in the Baptismal Rite (c.f. the BCP's "Christ's faithful soldier and servant until his life's end.")

It is said that it is the spectator who sees most of the game. As one being in retirement I have a grand opportunity of seeing how those still in the fray respond to the ever-increasing challenges and demands of the efforts to evangelise / fill empty pews (not always the one and the same thing). Of course the Church should always be welcoming, should always endeavour to see things through the eyes of those who approach it, should always endeavour to temper the wind to the shorn lamb. But clergy are ordained, appointed and paid to teach the teachings of the Church, and to administer the rites of the Church, as the Church requires them to be taught and administered - not (even for the worthiest of motives) to use their office to propagate theories of their own. It is because of the prevalence of such practices - so I believe- that God is not honouring his Church, with the inevitable consequences.

No. There is Thanksgiving. There is Holy Baptism. But no - there is no Dedication.

Yours in Christ

Rev'd W G Turnbull.

Click here for Paul Perkins' reply.

Editors's note:

I asked a Baptist colleague, who told me that Patterns and Prayers for Christian Worship (OUP 1991, published for the Baptist Union of Great Britain) has two services:

Infant Blessing has thanking God for the child, a blessing based on Mark 10:13-16, and a commitment by the parents to the child's upbringing in general terms.

Infant Presentation has these too, and also an undertaking by the parents to the Christian upbringing of the child, and an undertaking by the congregation to support this. Scriptures used are Luke 2:22-40 and Matthew 18:1-5,10-14.

There are a number of other books for different denominations, and maybe we ought to review them in a future Update?

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This web page was last updated on 16th May 2004.