What’s a Godfather to Do?

Q: What is the exact purpose of a godfather? What is the godfather supposed to do?

A: Godparents (baptismal sponsors) are to make sure that parents raise their children in the Christian Faith and, if the parents die, ensure that the children remain in the Church. Godparents should be chosen not to grant honor to them but to seek responsibility from them. They should be spiritually mature, confessing the same Faith as the rest of the Church. Actually, adults may also have baptismal sponsors to help and encourage them as they grow in Christian knowledge.

If you’d like a bit more information, please see the following from our church’s Commission on Worship. I point you to the proposed new baptismal rite (1st of 3 parts) for The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and also to a brief article on sponsors with a rite of enrollment.

Send email to Ask the Pastor.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book What Do Lutherans Believe.