| Most Recently Posted Ask a Question | |||||||
| Q: | I am a practising Anglican living in the States. A very close friend of mine wants me to be the godfather of his new son. My friend is Lutheran. I'm not sure of which Synod he is a member. My understanding is that the Lutheran Church and the United States Anglican Church now share full communion. If this is the case, the Lutheran Church recognizes my baptism, first communion and confirmation. May I serve as my friend's son's godfather? | ||||||
| A: | The largest Lutheran church in America, the ELCA, has committed itself to full communion with the Episcopal Church. All the formalities have not yet been completed, but I assume you would be more than welcome to present the child for baptism there. The Wisconsin Synod and the Missouri Synod do not have full communion with the Episcopal Church. Before you do this, you would want to understand what is the meaning of being a godparent. To some it simply means that you are being honored and may have a special attachment to the child at special events in his life. In WELS we do not normally use the word "godparent" but instead speak of "baptismal sponsors." A sponsor makes a promise to assist in the religious training of the child in accordance with the teachings of the church, especially if the child should lose its parents. We would not ask a person from a church with which we not in doctrinal agreement to make such a promise. For this reason, an Anglican could not be asked to serve as a true sponsor in our church. Sometimes godparents simply serve as witnesses to the baptism and make no pledge. A Christian who is not a member of a church is fellowship with us could serve as a witness to the baptism. Many people would call such a witness a "godparent." | ||||||
| |||||||