The First Congregational Church of Boylston—
Infant Baptism
Policy & Procedure
Welcome to the Sacrament
of Baptism!
Baptism is God’s gift, by which He incorporates children into His covenant
community and marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith. In infant
baptism, parents pledge to nurture the child in the knowledge and love of
Christ, to believe the Gospel, to learn the Apostles Creed, the Lord’s Prayer,
the Ten Commandments, and after embracing all these things, the child will be
confirmed, publicly claiming the faith for his/her own.
Who May Be Baptized
- Infants and young children may be baptized as a sign of God’s
covenant promise.
- Parents or guardians should be actively engaged in the life of
the congregation.
Responsibilities of Parents/Guardians
- Attend worship and participate in parish life.
- Commit to raising the child in the Christian faith through prayer,
Scripture, and modeling a life of faith.
- Support the child until they can make their own profession of faith.
Preparation for Baptism
- Parents must attend a baptism preparation session with
the pastor.
- Topics covered:
- Meaning and significance of baptism.
- Responsibilities of parents.
- How FCC Boylston supports families in faith formation.
Scheduling
- Baptisms are scheduled in coordination with the pastor, typically on
Sundays or special feast days.
- The pastor may determine readiness and may delay baptism if
additional preparation or pastoral guidance is needed.