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Baptism/Child Dedication

Rather than holding Christian-style baptism ceremonies, most Unitarian Universalist congregations have child dedication services for infants, young adopted children, or young children whose families have recently joined the congregation.

The parents bring the child to the front of the sanctuary at a designated time in a regular Sunday worship service, and the minister presides over the ceremony.  The dedication ceremony is generally a celebration of the blessing of new life, an expression of the parents' hopes for their child, and a call to the parents and the congregation's members to lead and nurture the child's spiritual life as it grows.

Adults are not required to be or become baptized when joining the Unitarian Universalist faith. For more information on joining as a teenager or adult, please see "Joining Unitarian Universalism."

Last updated on Monday, December 11, 2006.

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