WHAT IS CHILD DEDICATION AT FELLOWSHIP?

Why would you come before your church and dedicate your child? Can it be a private ceremony or should it be in a church service? Does this guarantee their salvation? What exactly is happening in the dedication?

While child dedication is a ceremony not specifically mandated in scripture, it is consistent with scripture’s teaching on the role of the family and the church’s support of the family. Child dedication does not guarantee your child’s salvation. Every child must respond to the life changing message of the gospel on their own. Child dedication is intended to be public and not private. Just as the role of witnesses is essential in a wedding, the community’s role in a dedication service is vital.

So what exactly is the point? Here are three key things we believe are accomplished in this ceremony. Each of these are reflected by questions asked in the ceremony and answered aloud by either parents or congregation.

  1. Child dedication is a commitment from Christian parents to point their children toward salvation in Jesus in a God-honoring environment – Parents are proclaiming through this service their commitment to raise their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).” They are committing to teach their children to Love God and remind them of His redemptive actions (Deuteronomy 6:1-9).

  2. Child dedication is a commitment from Christian parents to partner with the church in the teaching and training of their child – Sometimes parents are tempted to “out-source” the Biblical teaching of their child to the church while they handle the other aspects of development. This is not the Biblical model. In this ceremony parents are committing to partnership with the Christian community out of a recognition that while scripture desires the family to be the primary teaching environment for children, every family needs support. Children need other believing adults in their lives to encourage them, they need believing peers to challenge them, and they need opportunities to serve to confirm their faith. Parents needs guidance, encouragement and prayer from the community around them.

  3. Child dedication is a commitment from the community of Fellowship Bible Church to partner with the parents in the many ups and downs of parenting – The FBC members who will stay seated throughout the ceremony will still be participants. They too will commit to the parents, the children, and to God their active, loving, prayerful support.

In a child dedication we tend to focus all of our attention on the kids, but in reality the ceremony is more focused on the commitments of the parents and the church. No church or parent can guarantee the salvation of a child, but we can make a commitment to work together to point a child to the salvation available to them in Jesus. The following outline gives you an idea of how the service would typically go.

CEREMONY OUTLINE:

PASTORAL INTRODUCTION – Parents will join the pastor on stage with children (including siblings not being dedicated).

  1. Biblical precedent

  2. Purpose of the ceremony

INTRODUCTION OF EACH FAMILY AND CHILD

  1. Introduction of parent(s)

  2. Introduction of child(ren)

  3. Introduction of present extended family – Extended family can stand when introduced but will not usually join the family on stage.

  4. Verse(s) selected by parents for each child

READING OF COMMITMENTS

Parents, will you commit raise your children in a way that encourages them to know God and love Him with all of their heart, soul, and might?

All parents: I will.

Parents, will you commit to partner with this body of believers by encouraging your children to engagement with other believers for teaching, encouragement, and service?

All parents: I will.

Church, will you commit to these parents to pray for them, encourage them, mentor them, and equip them as they seek to fulfill their commitments to their children?

Church: I will.

Church, will you commit to these children to pray for them, encourage them, mentor them, and equip them to know God, love Him and follow Him?

Church: We will.

PASTORAL PRAYER