Certificate Of Baptism

Catholic-Reformed common agreement on baptism clears last hurdle

Father Michael Meany baptizes a boy during the Easter Vigil at St. Damian Parish in Oak Forest, Ill., in this 2010 file photo. A common agreement on baptism by the U.S. Catholic Church and four Protestant church communities cleared its final hurdle in early July. Baptisms performed in the Catholic Church or these four churches -- United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church (USA) WASHINGTON (CNS) -- With a July 4 vote by the General Synod of the United Church of Christ, a common agreement on baptism by the U.S. Catholic Church and four Protestant church communities cleared its final hurdle.

The "Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism," approved by the U.S. Catholic bishops last November, was ratified by the governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in June 2009 and the Reformed Church in America and Christian Reformed Church in North America this June.

With the agreement, drawn up by Catholic and Reformed scholars during the seventh round of the Catholic-Reformed Dialogue in the USA, baptisms performed in any of the five churches will be recognized by the others, as long as flowing water and the proper formula of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" is used and documented.

Calling baptism "the sacramental gateway into the Christian life," the agreement says baptism "is to be conferred only once, because those who are baptized are decisively incorporated into the body of Christ."

While other bishops' conferences around the world have entered into similar agreements with Protestant communities in their regions, the document is unprecedented for the U.S. Catholic Church.

When the agreement was approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Nov. 16 in Baltimore by a 204-11 vote, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta called it "a milestone on the ecumenical journey" and said it would "allow Catholic ministers to presume that baptisms performed in these communities are 'true baptism' as understood in Catholic doctrine and law."

"The presentation of a baptismal certificate by Reformed Christians who wish to come into full communion with the Catholic Church, or to marry a Catholic, assures Catholic ministers that the baptism performed by a Reformed minister involved the use of flowing water and the biblical invocation of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit," added the archbishop, who chairs the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

Free BAPTISM CERTIFICATE Printable >> Free Printable Catholic ...

Free Baptism Certificate: Baptism is a purification ritual with water and is practiced in many religions, including Sikhism, Mandaeanism and Christianity. Christian baptism has its roots in the Jewish ritual of Mikvah. The term ‘baptize’ is derived from the Greek word µ, which means to dip, bathe or wash. Many people regard Baptism as a religious conviction. It involves total immersion in holy water, symbolic of the assertion of faith. Baptism is a symbolic term that refers to ‘identification with Jesus’, having no connection with the ritual. The issuing of the Baptism Certificate is an important part of the celebration. The Baptism Certificate contains the information entered in a form provided by the church. The family pays the church for it, however the church might offer it for free, if the parents are poor. It serves as a pleasant reminder of the Baptismal act of obedience, the date and place of the ceremony and sometimes even the names of the guests present at the venue. In order to make the occasion memorable, you can download various certificate designs for free from the Internet.

Printable Baptism Certificate: Water Baptism symbolizes the cleansing of sins and the crucifixion and rising again of Christ. According to the Christian explanation, Baptism is a definitive rite, with the help of which the baptized person qualifies to participate in all the activities of the Church. Many Christian groups practice water-based baptisms in one form or the other. It is agreed that the ritual is essential, but many disagree on some aspects of the ritual involved. Many Catholic institutions require the submission of the printed baptism certificates, before granting admission to the child. Parents need to retrieve the printed baptism certificate from the priest and maintain it as a record. There are many websites on the Internet that provide you with several sample designs of baptism certificates.

Templates for Baptism Certificate: Baptism is an auspicious event and when a child or adult is baptized with water, it officially allows the person to become an official member of the religious group. Those who are baptized by the priests in a Church are provided with a baptism certificate. This is an important document that must be safeguarded. It helps in school admission and serves as a proof of the date of birth and parentage.

Certificate of Baptism

Certificate of Baptism

Certificate of baptism, Elva May Henry, born October 12, 1892

Certificate of baptism, San Francisco

Synopsis of mercantile laws, with an appendix: containing the most approved forms of notarial and commercial precedents, special and common, required in the daily transaction of business, by merchants, traders, notaries, attornies, &c

Certificate of Baptism. I, IM of , notary public &c, DO hereby certify and attest unto all whom it may concern, THAT AB by whom the annexed certificate of ...