{"id":4515,"date":"2020-04-20T13:52:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T04:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepuregift.com\/?p=4515"},"modified":"2021-09-17T06:28:28","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T20:58:28","slug":"godparent-not-at-baptism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepuregift.com\/godparent-not-at-baptism\/","title":{"rendered":"Does A Godparent Have To Be At Their Godchild’s Baptism?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is it ok to choose a godparent for your child if you know that they won’t be able to attend the baptism? Maybe they live a long way away and travelling just for the baptism is not really an option. Does a godparent really have to be at the baptism?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A godparent should be at the baptism if at all possible. However, if it’s not possible for the godparent to attend the baptism then most churches will allow a proxy godparent to witness the baptism on behalf of the godparent who can’t make it. <\/strong>The original godparent will still be the official godparent on the baptism certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve been to a catholic baptism where the catholic godparent lived overseas and couldn’t make it to the baptism. In this case there was another christian witness who stood up the front on their behalf and was also the second godparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s look at the role of the proxy godparent and some other reasons why a godparent may not be able to make it to the baptism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Choose A Godparent Who Can’t Be Present at the Baptism?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common reason that parents might choose a godparent who they know probably won’t be able to make it to the baptism is that the parents have just moved somewhere away from close family and friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case they still want to choose a godparent who they know well and they know will be a part of their child’s life for the long-haul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case it makes sense to choose someone from back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason that the godparent can’t attend the baptism may be the because of the godparents career\/job. Maybe you booked the baptism when they were available and now suddenly they’ve been called away for work. Maybe they work in the army and got called away suddenly, or maybe another emergency type job. The baptism could be rebooked to another date, or you could choose a proxy godparent to stand in on their behalf at the baptism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most churches require the godparent to be at least 16 years of age, but maybe you know a really mature 14 or 15 year old who you think would make a fantastic godparent. Maybe in this case you might also need to use a proxy godparent at the baptism to officially witness the baptism and serve as the godparent until the actual godparent reaches 16 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a godparent it a big deal. It’s important to choose someone who can fulfil this important role in your child’s life. Someone who has a strong faith in God and can help point your child to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help people choose someone with a strong faith most churches require that the godparent is a baptised christian. The Catholic church also require the godparent to be baptised and confirmed into the Catholic church. I’ve written more about godparents with a different denomination<\/a> here and what is expected by different denominations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding someone who fulfils these measures and also someone who you trust will do a good job and be there long term for your child can sometimes be a tough find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most churches realise this and won’t add the extra criteria of close physical distance to your child, and will allow your chosen godparent to be godparent even if they can’t attend the baptism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many years ago this wasn’t really an issue, but now people travel so much and it’s not uncommon for close family and friends to live far away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does A Stand-In\/Proxy Godparent Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A proxy godparent is someone who will represent your chosen godparent at the baptism. They will witness the baptism on behalf of your godparent and also make confessions of faith on behalf of your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First the proxy godparent will have to answer questions with the parents about their intentions to help raise the child in faith, something like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cParents and Sponsors, Since you have brought _______ to be baptised, you are responsible for her upbringing in the church.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n