Does baby need godparents to be baptized in Lutheran church?

Answer 1

This would primarily be up to the pastor and the parents, as well as the potential godparents. However, there are enough serious doctrinal disagreements regarding baptism between the Lutheran Churches and the Baptist Churches that such an arrangement could be problematic and perhaps not even possible if all parties were to remain faithful to their tradition. If the potential godparent were to subscribe only to Believer Baptism as opposed to Infant Baptism, then they could not really believe in the effectiveness of an infant's baptism. In the tradition of Believer's baptism, the child would have to be baptized again at an older age, when said child would be able to come to Christ and come to terms with their faith. Now, to a Lutheran, the concept of someone being baptized again would seem to be unnecessary at best, heretical in all cases, and at worst an insult to baptism. Article IX of the Augsburg Confession states that baptism should come to children, as it entrusts them to God, and Luther's Large Catechism lines 47-86 declare that Baptism should be given to children, and can only come once. For a Lutheran, baptism can only occur once, the free showing and showering of God's love and grace through the action of the Holy Spirit, permanently and not dependent on the child, but on a God who loves. A second baptism, or any belief that the infant's baptism is not the true baptism, would seem to Lutherans to possibly cast doubt on this. With this in mind, one must question if a Baptist would even want to become a godparent to a Lutheran child, if said child's very baptism is questionable to the Baptist. One would also question whether a baptized child would be brought up well as a Lutheran Christian if said child is being taught about Christianity and within Christianity, baptism, by one who ascribes to a vision that could potentially doubt the veracity of the child's baptism.

Answer 2

The problem with this is with the Roman Catholic Church, not the Lutheran Church. You must be a baptized member of the Roman Catholic faith to be a godparent in a Roman Catholic baptism, and vice-versa in a Lutheran baptism.

Answer 3

No, there is only one baptism. The family has to decide whether Catholic or Lutheran baptism. The Catholic Church recognizes the Lutheran baptism as valid but if the parents decide to raise child catholic and receive the other sacraments he will have to attend religious education classes.

Answer 4

That would not be appropriate as the responsibility of a Godparent is to help in bringing up the child in that child's religion. There could be a bit of a conflict of interest if the Godparent is of a different faith.

Answer 5

Yes, with permission of the Catholic pastor and if the other Godparent is a practicing Catholic.

Answer 6

They prefer that the godparents are Lutheran, but it usually is not necessary.

Answer 7

A Lutheran can be a Godparent at a Catholic baptism if the Catholic pastor approves and if there is a second sponsor who is a practicing Catholic.