Baptisms

How can I have my child baptised at St Peter’s Anglican Church? 

We love to baptise children at St Peter’s Anglican Church, so we are glad that you have asked the question. However, there is a more important question than ‘how’, and that is ‘why’? 

Why would I want my child baptised?  

Baptism is visible and physical sign of a much more important spiritual reality. On its own, just as a ceremony, baptism actually does nothing. It doesn’t make someone acceptable to God, it doesn’t make a child a Christian, it is simply a ceremony. This is because true baptism is actually a spiritual work of God. 

When the resurrected Jesus left this world and returned to his Father in Heaven he gave his disciples a promise, he said:  

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5) 

In other words, the water baptism wasn’t real baptism. Real baptism is when the Holy Spirit comes into the life of a disciple (or a believer). For adults, it is usually quite clear when someone has become a disciple because they start to live a new life for Jesus. Their water baptism serves as the physical sign of their new spiritual reality. But it should be said, that should an adult believer not have the chance to be baptised with water, for whatever possibly tragic reason, the spiritual reality is what really matters. If they trust in Jesus to save them from God’s wrath then they are fully acceptable to God. 

When it comes to young children, it is obviously difficult for them to make their own commitment to Jesus. So, under God, it is appropriate for a child in a Christian family to be baptised. However, it is the parents who make the baptismal promises on behalf of their child. So this means it is really important that you as a parent are right with God before you make those promises. The baptism of a child isn’t a promise of salvation but it comes with a prayer that as the Christian family disciples their child to know Jesus, the child will themselves turn to Jesus and make his promises their own. 

So, if you are someone who trusts in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, the ‘why’ of child baptism will be obvious. It’s because you wish to raise your child as a Christian, discipling them and nurturing them in their love of Jesus and his Word in the Bible, and so you want to make promises before God to do that! 

Who is eligible?  

Child baptism is open to parents whose child is not yet at school and who agree that Jesus is their Lord and Saviour. Older children can be considered for Baptism when they are old enough to make their own decisions about Jesus. 

Which brings us to the ‘How’… 

There are two ways.  

First, and our preference by far, is that you join our church! We love baptising the children of the members of Christ’s church here in Campbelltown because we know the family is committed to serving Jesus week in and week out and that they have the support and love of other Christian families to help them. We have a pathway to membership of our church that we’d be happy to discuss with you. 

Or second, is to join in with one of our baptism groups that runs 4 times a year. This requires several commitments on your part so that we can get to know you and so that you can work through the serious promises that you will be making before God. 

Your commitment: 

  1. To attend the Baptism Preparation Course at St Peter’s Anglican Church between 3.30pm and 5.00pm, on a Sunday.
    * Term 2 course will commence on the 5th May, 2024.
    * T
    erm 3 will start on the 25th August, 2024.
  2. To regularly attend one of our church services during the same period as your course 
  3. To decide, in conjunction with the Minister, after the Baptism Preparation Course, if it is appropriate to go through with the baptism based on your response to Jesus and the baptismal promises you will make before Him.
  4. To agree to finding a suitable Sunday for a service, to be agreed after the Course, that works for all the families going ahead with the baptism. This service will be a combined service of multiple families. Each child will have their individual baptism and a photo opportunity however, you will need to commit to respectfully sitting through the entire service for all the families involved.
  5. To consider which local church you will join after the Baptism, so you have Christian support to help you raise your child to know Jesus. One of our ministers will contact you to discuss the options after the Baptism. 

If you would like to join our church, you are welcome to attend any of our weekly services! The best services for families with young children are our St Peter’s 10am Service located in the St Peter’s School Hall (next to the church carpark) or the St Andrew’s Airds 9:30am service. Please contact the church office if you would like further details.  

If you would like to register your interest for our next Baptism Group, please complete this online Baptism Group Registration form and one of our ministry team will contact you shortly. Please note that there is a $50 administration fee for Baptisms, made payable at the time of application via the online form. This covers the cost of the Preparation Course and applies regardless of whether you proceed to the Baptism. It also includes the cost of a new children’s bible for you to read with your child for many years to come! 

If you have any further questions please contact out church office on 4625 1041.