How to Conduct a Baby Dedication Service

The General Idea

A Baby Dedication is a special rite observed in a worship service where parents pledge to raise a child in the Christian faith. Because raising a child in the faith is not done independently, I recommend involving the parents, godparents (if applicable), and congregation in the charge to help each party recognize their responsibility in nurturing a child in the faith. I have provided a sample charge to the parents, godparents, and congregation below.

Dedication Biblical Authority: Matthew 19:13-15

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Address to the Congregation

The family is a divine institution ordained of God from the beginning of time. Children are a heritage of the Lord committed by Him to their parents for care, provision, protection, and spiritual training. It is good when parents recognize all of these obligations and responsibilities and make every effort to fully carry them out. In this act of dedication FATHER’S NAME and MOTHER’S NAME acknowledge these responsibilities and come before us today to dedicate themselves and CHILD’S NAME to God and his will for their lives as a family.

At CHURCH NAME, we dedicate children rather than baptize them. Just as Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord and Joseph and Mary dedicated the infant Jesus to the Lord according to Jewish custom, we believe dedication more closely follows the biblical pattern than baptism, of which we have no precedent of an infant or child being baptized in the Bible. Thus, this dedication ritual does not impart faith or forgiveness of sins to CHILD’S NAME. Rather, it is FATHER’S NAME and MOTHER’S NAME’S public acknowledgment that CHILD’S NAME is a gift from God to them, and that they have a spiritual responsibility for the Christian nurture and training of this child.

Charge to the Parents

FATHER’S NAME and MOTHER’S NAME, you have brought CHILD’S NAME before us today to publicly dedicate her to the Lord. I have a series of questions to ask you, and please affirm your desires by answering each of them, “WE WILL.”

• Will you accept your God-given responsibility to raise CHILD’S NAME in a Christ-centered home?
• Will you teach and discipline her in your home so that you are not solely dependent on the church or school system to impart biblical knowledge and spiritual values to CHILD’S NAME?
• Will you not assume that your careers or peer approval are the highest goals in life; but rather what will advance the cause of Christ?
• Will you not make your life’s choices based on secular trends or material gain, but rather will you make your life’s choices based on what will benefit and strengthen the faith of your family?
• FATHER’S NAME as her earthly father, will you give CHILD’S NAME the time and attention and affection that show the true nature of her Father in Heaven?
• MOTHER’S NAME, as her earthly mother, will you give CHILD’S NAME the special attachment she craves from you and the special nurturing touch that you are uniquely gifted by God to give her?

Charge to the Godparents (optional)

GODPARENT FATHER’ NAME and GODPARENT MOTHER’S NAME, you have accepted FATHER’S NAME and MOTHER’S NAME’s request for you to be godparents to their child. I have a series of questions to ask you, and please affirm your desires by answering each of them, “WE WILL.”

• In accepting this role, will you regularly pray for FATHER’S NAME, MOTHER’S NAME, and CHILD’S NAME?
• As close relatives to this family, will you conduct your lives in a way that reinforces the biblical values that CHILD’S NAME is taught in his/her home?
• If in the future FATHER’S NAME and MOTHER’S NAME are not able available for CHILD’S NAME, will you do everything in your power to help him/her follow Christ?

Charge to the Congregation (standing)

• Congregation, will you as the community of faith support FATHER’S NAME and MOTHER’S NAME and CHILD’S NAME by the Christian love and example you set by your lives? If so, please say, “We will.”

Prayer of Dedication

Conclude the charge with a prayer of dedication.

Variations

My former church gives a red rose to the father as a symbol of his blood relationship to the child, a white flower to the mother to symbolize the purity of Christian motherhood, and a budding rose to the baby to affirm the potential of the child that will unfold.