This Sunday my little guy will be baptized. Actually, as my wife and I are not religious and won’t be making any promises, it’s more of a “blessing” than a Baptism (or a California style baptism, as the pastor called it).
The official is the semi-retired Pastor at my Mom’s Lutheran church. It’s very informal, taking place in my Mom’s kitchen. No fee has been mentioned for performing the service, and I wasn’t sure how to bring it up, so… ( I know I should just ask, but I’m weird that way :rolleyes: , and why be direct when you can try and figure it out on a discussion board ?:dubious: )
I was thinking of giving the Pastor a thank you card after the ceremony, and slipping in a little something-something. Any thoughts or relevant experiences?
well, i’ve never of tipping a priest after a baptism, but making a “donation” to the church would be acceptable… to slip cash or write a check out to the Priest would be offensive, in my Catholic HO
I’ve never heard of tipping the individual performing a religious ceremony (regardless of how religious, or not, the individuals in question are). However, donations to the church are quite common; how do you think they pay their bills, indulgences and political blackmail? So 15th century.
I’m not saying it’s bad, I just don’t see the point in baptizing a kid when the parents aren’t believers and the child won’t be raised in church.
As to your question, I don’t see any harm. We gave the preacher $50 when he married us – usually people will give a little less, but he did the ceremony on really short notice. He was pleasantly surprised.
He can always refuse it if he wants.
You could ask your mom and she what she thinks since she appears to know him well.
Individual in first use: pastor/preacher/priest/rabbi/Tibetan Monk/whatever.
Individuals in second use: individual to be baptized/confirmed/married/buried/whatever. Also sometimes includes parents/guardians and/or other relations.
In my opinion it is not only appropriate to give a donation, it is expected and would be rude not to. You should call and ask him what is the typical donation for his services. I am sure he will not be offended. He will probably say whatever you feel comfortable with. I would think a minimum of 50 dollars would be reasonable. Congratulations and God Bless the little one.
Well, the point is, it would make my Mom feel much better. Something to do with if something were to happen to the little guy, she wants to be assured he’ll be OK, in a spiritual sense. Apparently, she’s been losing sleep for a good six months or so worrying. My Dad too.
It’s really no skin off my nose to do it. My only objection was, I couldn’t in good faith promise to raise him in any faith, since I have no intentions of doing it. I have no problem with him being “blessed” if it helps Mom’s piece of mind.
Heck, i told her she could do it with some Kool-Aid in the back yard, if she wanted. (That didn’t go over to well… :smack: )
So it sounds like a donation to the Church is a reasonable move. Thanks to all.
I’ve known a few parents that do the baptism without belief gig, generally it’s for the Grandparents’ sake. My best friend used to threaten to kidnap my kid and sneak him to her church for baptizing. She was resigned about my choice to abstain from Religion but felt that it wasn’t fair to my son, babies just needs the baptizing even if the parents are heathens, y’see.
Not to hijack … but I didn’t know Lutherans believed unbaptized children go to hell? Is this just their personal belief or is it the official teaching of the denomination?
