Whereas most Christian faiths have a Baby Baptism, The Salvation Army has a Baby Dedication.
A dedication is a ceremony in which a child is presented back to God with thanksgiving and for His blessing. This is not a sacramental service and there is no water used. It usually takes place during the Sunday morning service but in some special circumstances, can be scheduled at other times. Parents promise to care for their child and give them protection from harmful things as far as possible. An Officer/Pastor holds the child and asks God in prayer to bless the child and guide the family. People in the congregation are asked to encourage the child as he/she grows. One important difference between the dedication service and a christening or baptism is that it is the parents themselves, and not godparents or other sponsors, who make the promises. The parents publicly agree that they want their child to love and serve God and they promise to provide a Christian upbringing, and as far as possible, to keep all harmful influences away from them.
Another difference is that the ceremony does not automatically make the child a Christian or a Salvationist – those are choices that each person must make for themselves when old enough to understand what Salvation means.
The Officer/Pastor then hands the child back to the parents and a Dedication and Cradle Roll certificate as well a child’s Bible/Book is presented.
What is typically noted on the Dedication Certificate?
- Register Number
- Corps (Church) at which the child is dedicated
- Full name of the child
- Town
- Date of dedication
- Date and place of birth
- Father’s name
- Mother’s name
- Signature & Rank of officer
Short video showing a recent Dedication Ceremony:
Be assured, you do not need to belong to our congregation to have your baby dedicated.
If you desire to have your baby dedicated at the CBS Corps you can email us the following key initial information at cbscorps@gmail.com or call the office at 709-834-6596. And please include as your subject line “Baby Dedication“. Thanks and God Bless you, and your baby.
- Parent(s) Name
- Address
- Town/City
- Province
- Telephone #
- Date of Dedication (Requested, Please provide and alternate date as well)
- How many guests attending Dedication?
- Child Name
- Child Date of Birth
- Child Place Of Birth
- Siblings to Child and age(s)
- Mother Maiden Name
- Father Occupation
- Mother Occupation
- Date of Marriage
- Best Time to Contact
