Do Baptists have godparents?

[Chronister4673]

My stepdaughter’s mother is angry that DH had her baptized in December. She claims that her godparents aren’t really her godparents because the mother gets to pick who they are, and that dear stepdaughter already had a godmother (even though they had not had her baptized and had no plans of doing so).

They’re non-practicing (not even Christmas and Easter) Baptists. When dsd goes to church there, it’s only because they send her with her husband’s family. Mother and stepfather stay home. So, the question is whether Baptists have the same practice for godparents that Catholics do? Can anyone advise?

Thank you for your responses.

 

[TimmyCamaro]

No not to my knowledge. I was born into a very strict Baptist family, was sent to a Baptist school, Baptist church twice a week and I have never once met anyone or even heard of anyone being a godparent in the Baptist tradition.

 

[deb216]

I’ve known non-Catholics who name “godparents” for their children, but it is only an honorary title that is not linked to baptism, religion or any higher obligation.

 

[dulcissima]

No, Baptists do not have godparents. I was baptized in a Baptist church when I was 11, and godparents were not even an option. It would have been nice if I could have had godparents though. My dad died just 5 months after my baptism, and we stopped going to church. Maybe if I had godparents, it would have made a difference.

 

[Zooey]

Baptists do not have godparents in the same way that Catholics do. They may call someone “godparents”, but it is , as has been said, simply an informal relationship, like “courtesy aunts/uncles”.
Most of my family is Baptist, and none of them have godparents. Most of them frown on even using that term…
(Methodists–like me-- have godparents, sometimes called “sponsors”. But not Baptists).
HTH!!

 

[Chronister4673]

Thank you guys so much for your answers. I know that the godparents that stood up with us to get her baptized were her real godparents. Her mother is just trying to start trouble by claiming we abrogated “her right” to pick the godparents. I assumed that there was no such thing as a godparent (in the Catholic sense) in the Baptist church. You guys just confirmed what I thought was true.

Please pray for little Mary as now her mother’s trying another stunt.

 

[fmj]

YES!!! I was christened in the baptist church 53 years ago, when I was a few months old. My mothers sister and husband stood with my parents when I was christened and took an oath to serve as godparents.

My brother was also christened 46 years ago,and another of Mom’s sisters and husbands stood with my parents when he was christened and took an oath to serve as godparents.

I was given my Aunt’s (godmothers) first name as my middle name and my brother was given his Uncle’s (godfathers) first name as his middle name.

I am surprised to read that this is NOT done in the Baptist church??!?!?!?!?

This represents the parents dedication of bringing up the child in the faith with the godparents helping.

Then when a child is approximately 12, or old enough to have an understanding of their faith, God, etc. then it is their choice to attend classes of learning and accept Christ through baptisim.

 

[reteeks21]

My stepdaughter’s mother is angry that DH had her baptized in December. She claims that her godparents aren’t really her godparents because the mother gets to pick who they are, and that dear stepdaughter already had a godmother (even though they had not had her baptized and had no plans of doing so).

They’re non-practicing (not even Christmas and Easter) Baptists. When dsd goes to church there, it’s only because they send her with her husband’s family. Mother and stepfather stay home. So, the question is whether Baptists have the same practice for godparents that Catholics do? Can anyone advise?

Thank you for your responses.

Many of us do. I grew up Baptist, and my uncle, a Baptist minister is my godfather. But what is the role of a godfather as you see it? I think that may be where the difference comes in.

 

[cathopologist]

Here i am thinking a Baptist would shudder at the very word “godparent”. They wouldn’t want their sons or daughters “worshiping” somebody else, would they?