Why are certificates of baptism issued?

Answer 1

There are two reasons for this. First, a certificate is a keepsake. Sometimes a person celebrates the his or her baptism as if it was a birthday (after all, it is in a sense) and the certificate acts as a keepsake for what was a joyous occasion (or should be!). Secondly, baptism is a requirement for some offices within the Church. For instance, if a person when an adult is called to the priesthood, or to service within a monastic community, or a convent, or to be a paid evangelist, or a member of the Church Army, or a missionary, or a multitude of other positions within the Church then for many of these baptism is a prerequisite for them to be appointed. Records of baptisms are kept within the churches so that if you knew the church in which you were baptised then records could be looked up. However, if you did not know, or if the parish priest or vicar had changed several times, or if the records were now removed from the church and deposited in the Records Office, searching for proof of baptism would be difficult, or, at least, inconvenient. So a certificate which confirms baptism is, in this case, a much better option.

Answer 2

Baptism certificates can be used if you move and begin to attend a different congregation of the same denomination. It proves that you were baptized and as such are already a Christian or member of that denomination and do not need to be re-baptized to be recognized as a member of that congregation.

Baptism certificates are also used as a keepsake. Some people like to keep them in scrapbooks, family Bibles, or framed on the wall.

Answer 3

It serves as proof that a particular person has been baptized.