A Baptist interpretation of the rite of dedication: a resource for ministry

James Adams Braker

Etd

A Baptist interpretation of the rite of dedication: a resource for ministry

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

James Adams Braker. A Baptist Interpretation of the Rite of Dedication: a Resource for Ministry. Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e6fa66e3-1606-4739-a2f9-bf2b939a68c1.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

J. A. Braker. A Baptist interpretation of the rite of dedication: a resource for ministry. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e6fa66e3-1606-4739-a2f9-bf2b939a68c1

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

James Adams Braker. A Baptist Interpretation of the Rite of Dedication: a Resource for Ministry. Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e6fa66e3-1606-4739-a2f9-bf2b939a68c1.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

James Adams Braker

Keyword

Child dedication service

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Abstract

This thesis provides a resource for Baptist clergy who wish to use a rite of dedication as a means for ministry with families. The birth or arrival of a child awakens religious concerns and stirs a renewed interest in the church. Such can be an occasion for ministry with families. A rite of dedication commonly is comprised of three components: thanksgiving, promises and blessing. It is God who dedicates the child to himself in creation. The parents and congregation are invited to dedicate themselves to engage in the ministry of Christian nurture on behalf of the child. The Baptist emphasis upon the believer's faith-response tends to make ambiguous the status of the child too young to profess faith. In affirming the worth of the child, Jesus implied that the child may be a paradigm of the Christian who relies upon God's gracious initiative. The origin and history of the dedication rite among Baptists remains obscure. It appears there has been an 'instinct' within Baptists to affirm the child's place in the church through a dedication rite. Sample rites from the past and present attest to the rich and abundant possibilities inherent in advisor: John Charles Wynn.is s.

Publisher