Godparents

[tossbag]

Hi all, I have about 3 weeks until becoming a dad, yay! This has sparked a thought in my otherwise dormant mind.
Ignoring the religous debates, how do people decide on godparents, and are family generally a good choice?
I ask really hypothetically, not sure how I stand on christenings, but say my brother wouldn't be a first choice, but should he be?
What in your experience are the correct protocols?

[Rufus]

tossbag said:

Hi all, I have about 3 weeks until becoming a dad, yay! This has sparked a thought in my otherwise dormant mind.
Ignoring the religous debates, how do people decide on godparents, and are family generally a good choice?
I ask really hypothetically, not sure how I stand on christenings, but say my brother wouldn't be a first choice, but should he be?
What in your experience are the correct protocols?

For all of ours, we chose one family member, aunt or uncle works best. One friend of mine and one friend of my wifes. What with me being an only child, my wife only having two sisters, one of our family ones had to be an un-blood related uncle. Best to choose people who you know haven't already got hundreds, my wife's best friend for example didn't ever have children, so has been asked by loads of people to be Godmother, try and go for friends who may have only one or two at the most. also, make it even between your children if you have more, my youngest has only two to the others three which has always been a bone of contention.

Hope this is in someway helpful

[tossbag]

Rufus said:

tossbag said:

Hi all, I have about 3 weeks until becoming a dad, yay! This has sparked a thought in my otherwise dormant mind.
Ignoring the religous debates, how do people decide on godparents, and are family generally a good choice?
I ask really hypothetically, not sure how I stand on christenings, but say my brother wouldn't be a first choice, but should he be?
What in your experience are the correct protocols?

For all of ours, we chose one family member, aunt or uncle works best. One friend of mine and one friend of my wifes. What with me being an only child, my wife only having two sisters, one of our family ones had to be an un-blood related uncle. Best to choose people who you know haven't already got hundreds, my wife's best friend for example didn't ever have children, so has been asked by loads of people to be Godmother, try and go for friends who may have only one or two at the most. also, make it even between your children if you have more, my youngest has only two to the others three which has always been a bone of contention.

Hope this is in someway helpful

Extrememly helpful, thank you, you raised some points I hadn't even considered.

[stemll]

tossbag said:

Ignoring the religous debates

How exactly? Asking someone to become a godparent means them standing at the front during the baptism and declaring that they will ensure that the child receives a religious upbringing. Also, if the baptism is CoE then the godparents need to be baptised too. If Catholic then godparents have to be confirmed Catholics themselves.

"For every child to be baptised there shall be not fewer than three godparents, of whom at least two shall be of the same sex as the child and of whom at least one shall be of the opposite sex; save that, when three cannot conveniently be had, one godfather and god mother shall suffice. Parents may be godparents for their own children provided that the child has at least one other godparent.

The godparents shall be persons who will faithfully fulfil their responsibilities both by their care for the children committed to their charge and by the example of their own godly living."


For CoE, the parents and godparents will need to answer the following before the baptism.

Will you pray for them (the children), draw them by your example into the community of faith and walk with the in the way of Christ?
With the help of God we will.

Will you care for them (the children) and help them take their place within the life and worship of Christ's Church?
With the help of God we will.

They are then asked these six questions which they all answer together:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
I come to Christ.

[tossbag]

stemll said:

tossbag said:

Ignoring the religous debates

How exactly? Asking someone to become a godparent means them standing at the front during the baptism and declaring that they will ensure that the child receives a religious upbringing. Also, if the baptism is CoE then the godparents need to be baptised too. If Catholic then godparents have to be confirmed Catholics themselves.

"For every child to be baptised there shall be not fewer than three godparents, of whom at least two shall be of the same sex as the child and of whom at least one shall be of the opposite sex; save that, when three cannot conveniently be had, one godfather and god mother shall suffice. Parents may be godparents for their own children provided that the child has at least one other godparent.

The godparents shall be persons who will faithfully fulfil their responsibilities both by their care for the children committed to their charge and by the example of their own godly living."


For CoE, the parents and godparents will need to answer the following before the baptism.

Will you pray for them (the children), draw them by your example into the community of faith and walk with the in the way of Christ?
With the help of God we will.

Will you care for them (the children) and help them take their place within the life and worship of Christ's Church?
With the help of God we will.

They are then asked these six questions which they all answer together:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
I come to Christ.

Maybe I should have said 'Setting aside religous debate for now' then, as in, I have my own beliefs but was asking a different question entirely.
Thanks for the semi indignant reply though.

[sday12]

Make sure that you will know them in years to come, no point having a Godparent who buggers off in a few years,


Mine:

Boy 1: Best Man, Maid of Honour (Sister in Law)

Boy 2: Sister, Brother in Law (just after his confirmation) and close friend.


Mix it up a bit!

[croyde]

Amongst our lot it seems that the wives were trying to out do each other on the number of God parents for each child born amongst our now very depleted social circle. Its so bad that 10 years down the line I can't remember who most of are our kids God parents are, yet I do know a few that seem to have forgotten their duties

As I have forgotton who I am supposed to be a God parent to.

[jas xjr]

a female friend of mine wants ME ( )to be a godfather when she has a baby. trouble is i do not practice any religion. what would happen in this case?

Edited by jas xjr on Saturday 21st November 16:37

[Plotloss]

jas xjr said:

a female friend of mine wants to be a godfather when she has a baby. trouble is i do not practice any religion. what would happen in this case?

You just got to the service, go through the motions and carry on as you were.

[Cara Van Man]

Not christened my littlun as I don't believe in any of that tosh.

[croyde]

jas xjr said:

a female friend of mine wants to be a godfather when she has a baby. trouble is i do not practice any religion. what would happen in this case?

So she wants to be a godfather to her own child!

[jas xjr]

croyde said:

jas xjr said:

a female friend of mine wants to be a godfather when she has a baby. trouble is i do not practice any religion. what would happen in this case?

So she wants to be a godfather to her own child!

in my defence i was working

original post edited for stupidity

[croyde]

Now it makes me look stoopid.

[Meteor Madness]

stemll said:

tossbag said:

Ignoring the religous debates

How exactly? Asking someone to become a godparent means them standing at the front during the baptism and declaring that they will ensure that the child receives a religious upbringing. Also, if the baptism is CoE then the godparents need to be baptised too. If Catholic then godparents have to be confirmed Catholics themselves.

"For every child to be baptised there shall be not fewer than three godparents, of whom at least two shall be of the same sex as the child and of whom at least one shall be of the opposite sex; save that, when three cannot conveniently be had, one godfather and god mother shall suffice. Parents may be godparents for their own children provided that the child has at least one other godparent.

The godparents shall be persons who will faithfully fulfil their responsibilities both by their care for the children committed to their charge and by the example of their own godly living."


For CoE, the parents and godparents will need to answer the following before the baptism.

Will you pray for them (the children), draw them by your example into the community of faith and walk with the in the way of Christ?
With the help of God we will.

Will you care for them (the children) and help them take their place within the life and worship of Christ's Church?
With the help of God we will.

They are then asked these six questions which they all answer together:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
I come to Christ.

So much irony here I don't know where to start. Since when can the Christian church lecture people on Deceit, Corruption, and taking care of children ?

[croyde]

'Cos they are very good at the first two and a bit too good with the third.

[NuisanceFactor]

jas xjr said:

a female friend of mine wants ME ( )to be a godfather when she has a baby. trouble is i do not practice any religion. what would happen in this case?

If it were me I would thank her, and let her know that you really appreciate that she thought of you as a role model, but that as you don't practice any religion it would be hypocritical of you to be a godparent.

However, if you want to remain in contact with the child, help with guidance and be there for them if/when needed, then you could offer to do just that. You don't need to be religious or to go through a ceremony to do that.

[jas xjr]

NuisanceFactor said:

jas xjr said:

a female friend of mine wants ME ( )to be a godfather when she has a baby. trouble is i do not practice any religion. what would happen in this case?

If it were me I would thank her, and let her know that you really appreciate that she thought of you as a role model, but that as you don't practice any religion it would be hypocritical of you to be a godparent.

However, if you want to remain in contact with the child, help with guidance and be there for them if/when needed, then you could offer to do just that. You don't need to be religious or to go through a ceremony to do that.

i do not need the formality of a ceremony. i will always look out for my dear friend and her child(ren). just did not want to rock the boat. anyway will have to wait till she has a child.

[miniman]

stemll said:

Also, if the baptism is CoE then the godparents need to be baptised too.

[t11ner]

NuisanceFactor said:

jas xjr said:

a female friend of mine wants ME ( )to be a godfather when she has a baby. trouble is i do not practice any religion. what would happen in this case?

If it were me I would thank her, and let her know that you really appreciate that she thought of you as a role model, but that as you don't practice any religion it would be hypocritical of you to be a godparent.

However, if you want to remain in contact with the child, help with guidance and be there for them if/when needed, then you could offer to do just that. You don't need to be religious or to go through a ceremony to do that.

I've been in the same situation and had to tactfully turn down being the godfather to one of my brothers kids. I've now been asked again by my best mate and he's made it clear that it's more about the idea of having someone who would take some responsibility for the kid if anything ever happened to him and not about the religious bit so I've agreed but I think it's going to be a pretty uncomfortable feeling renouncing the devil etc .

[sday12]

t11ner said:

NuisanceFactor said:

jas xjr said:

a female friend of mine wants ME ( )to be a godfather when she has a baby. trouble is i do not practice any religion. what would happen in this case?

If it were me I would thank her, and let her know that you really appreciate that she thought of you as a role model, but that as you don't practice any religion it would be hypocritical of you to be a godparent.

However, if you want to remain in contact with the child, help with guidance and be there for them if/when needed, then you could offer to do just that. You don't need to be religious or to go through a ceremony to do that.

I've been in the same situation and had to tactfully turn down being the godfather to one of my brothers kids. I've now been asked again by my best mate and he's made it clear that it's more about the idea of having someone who would take some responsibility for the kid if anything ever happened to him and not about the religious bit so I've agreed but I think it's going to be a pretty uncomfortable feeling renouncing the devil etc .

Grow a pair and don't do it