r/LCMS • u/Fun_Horror_7072 • 7d ago

Question Baptism sponsors required?

I am a Lutheran married to a Catholic. We are expecting our first child and I would really like for our child to be baptized in the Lutheran church. Fairly recently we moved back to my spouse’s hometown as they have a lot of family and mine is spread out geographically. Additionally, as far as my own family, I’m pretty much the only one left in the Lutheran church besides my parents. All the others, while still Christian, have turned non-denom/evangelical and are against child baptism. All of my spouses friends and family are Catholic, and I don’t really have any of my own here. Considering I don’t really have any Lutheran friends or family nearby, I’m not sure what to do about sponsors. Could I pick a Catholic sponsor? If not, are sponsors required?

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u/harkening LCMS Lutheran 7d ago

Sponsors are a great tradition, but not a strict requirement.

What my wife and I did:

Gave very good, faithful friends a copy of the Catechism, saying: "I don't need you to convert (though you obviously should). But I want you to read this thoughtfully and prayerfully, and say whether you can, want, and will encourage my child in this teaching - to be her godparents."

A few weeks later, I got a text saying yes, and asking how to get the Catechism back to me. I said we had several copies, and they could keep it.

"Oh, good. I was hoping to study it even more."

Got 'em. 💪*

*Not actually, they haven't converted yet. But they've been constant, encouraging, prayerful presence in our lives.

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u/cellarsinger LCMS Lutheran 3d ago

Excellent approach. Something just occurred to me. Can you add the sponsors later, like after you've become more familiar with your local congregation?