Parent-Child Dedication
Parenting is a wonderful privilege and a tremendous responsibility! At Community Church, we recognize how challenging the parenting role can be, especially in the world today. To come alongside the young families in our church, we offer parents the opportunity to dedicate themselves and their children to the Lord as they enter into this significant role as a mom or dad.
Dedication is not baptism for the child, and it has no salvific effect upon children. Rather, through this Biblical ceremony modeled by Jesus' own dedication (Luke 2:22-40), parents have the opportunity to present their child before God and their church family in a public covenant; they commit to lead by example, to raise their children in a God-honoring home, and to help their children know the Lord personally someday.
In preparation for the dedication, each child and family is prayed over with intention and purpose. If you are interested in having your child dedicated, or to discuss this process in detail, you can fill out the form below or call the church office to set up a time to meet with Pastor Adam. The registration form is attached below.
As you prepare to make these commitments to your child before God and this church family, it is expected that your life reflect a certain level of obedience to the Bible’s teaching. For instance, if a parent is not a follower of Jesus Christ, then their pledge to raise their children to honor the Lord is nullified. Another instance is if a child’s parents are not married but are living together, their promise to raise their child in a Christ-honoring home is impossible.
Therefore, at Community Church, parents’ lives are to demonstrate their obedience to Jesus as Lord. If this isn’t the case, parents may be asked to wait to dedicate their child until their lives more readily reflect their obedience to Jesus as Lord.
The words from Deuteronomy 6:6-7 are key in understanding child dedication. These verses make it clear that the parent has a very important role and responsibility in creating an environment where the child can grow in his or her relationship with God. When a parent dedicates a child, he or she is publicly pledging to God to bring their child up in the nurture and instruction of the Lord.
- Does your life demonstrate obedience to God’s Word so that the Parent/Child Dedication pledge can be made with integrity?
- Do you recognize this child as a gift from God?
- Do you desire to encourage your child in discovering and developing a relationship with God?
- Are you willing to investigate and then take steps to help your child to learn and grow closer to God?
- Is it your desire that this church be a place where you and your child can mature in faith and service?