BAPTISM POLICY

Baptisms are celebrated as part of our regular Sunday worship services. It is important that the congregation, which is both the baptizing Church and the receiving community, be present. As the called and ordained minister of the congregation, the pastor presides at Baptism. The pastor’s function is that of acting on behalf of the assembled Church.* Sponsors are Christian people who take responsibility for those to be baptized. Their presence emphasizes that the sacrament is closely tied to the community which we call the Church, and that the congregation undertakes a serious responsibility in obedience to its Lord. Sponsors are important, even for adults being baptized.* Sponsors should be active members of a Christian congregation. Baptism is not only a beginning; it also suggests the shape of the Christian life to follow. Those who bring infants or young children for Baptism must be prepared to become accountable for their Christian nurture. Though parents and sponsors assume that responsibility directly, the entire congregation shares it. A congregation’s program of education is rooted in its practice of Baptism.* Pastoral counseling with the parents of the child to be baptized is required prior to the baptism (usually one or two weeks prior). Covered in the counseling: meaning and purpose of baptism, the importance of baptism in the Lutheran church, and the responsibilities of parents and sponsors. Parents who are non-members and are requesting baptism for their child(ren) are encouraged to first become members or begin preparations for membership. They should be fully aware that as part of the liturgy, they will make promises to God, with the congregation’s witness and support, to bring their child(ren) to the services of God’s house. Photos during a baptism are limited to video recording from the narthex. Otherwise, photography is to occur after the service. Please reference “Photography Policy”. Honorariums or gifts are acceptable.

* “By Water and the Spirit, Preparing for Holy Baptism”

According to the Rite of the Lutheran Book of Worship

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 104 S. Village Avenue Exton, PA 19341 Church Office 610-363-6264 Approved 10/4/04 stpaulslionville.org

PHOTOGRAPHY/RECORDING POLICY
The recording, through photographs and/or video tapes, of special events in an individual’s spiritual life is significant. We encourage you to make the event special and we welcome your desire to record these ceremonies. Because worship is a special community and individual event we have a number of guidelines. These have been developed based on our desire to keep the focus of our gathering on worship. Without guidelines photographers can become the focus of attention; focus should rather be on the Lord or the persons whom the Lord is blessing. In the visual recording of an event, it is often the photographer’s desire to be close to the action and to view it from an optimum angle. This can become intrusive. An acceptable alternative is to request that the Pastor and worship leaders re-stage the event following the service so that the photographer will have the opportunity to get the desired perspective, lighting, and camera angles.

The rules regarding the actions, movement and position of the photographer are as follows:

1. The photographer(s) will be informed of the position from which the actual event may be recorded. (Almost any position may be used during the re-staged event.)

2. The motion of a photographer trying to get that “best shot” can be distracting; such distractions are unacceptable. Standing behind the altar, organ, behind or on the pulpit, or on the altar riser is not allowed.

3. The use of special lighting, i.e. flash or flood lights, is not permitted during the actual event. Flash lamps startle and disrupt attention. Flood lights divert attention away from the focus of the ceremony. Therefore, at all times during the service (i.e., between the Invocation and Benediction inclusive) special lighting shall not be used. High speed films and/or available-light methods may be employed during the actual event. (Special lighting may be employed when the ceremony is re-staged.)

We want everyone to be able to celebrate these special worship events in a meaningful way. We hope you understand the purpose of our photography/recording policy in providing for that.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 104 S. Village Avenue Exton, PA 19341 Church Office 610-363-6264 Approved 10/4/04 stpaulslionville.org