Affirmation of Baptism – Genderqueer

Affirmation of Baptism by Aneel Trivedi

This affirmation of baptism is for the genderqueer – for those perhaps with a new name or those transitioning. You’ll notice that NAME is referenced often, as are PRONOUNS. The presiding minister is encouraged to speak the participant’s name, especially if it’s a new name, as often as possible. 

The affirmation of baptism can be included in a service of Holy Communion, perhaps in the Gathering instead of a Thanksgiving for Baptism, however, it can also stand alone as a separate service. 

Gathering

Rather than a presentation by a single sponsor, all those who recognize the image of God reflected in the person making the affirmation may join together in a circle around the font as a symbol of God’s work in these waters as the source and center of our life together.

Friends, we are grateful for (NAME)and for the gift of baptism that affirms God’s great love and affection for (PRONOUN) and for each one of us – created in God’s image and created delightfully unique. We celebrate today with (NAME) as (PRONOUN) respond to God’s love by affirming (PRONOUN) baptism into Christ. 

We gather together now around the font in support and love of (NAME) who, through these waters, was joined to a community that has not always reflected well God’s great love and affirmation of (PRONOUN) whole self. And yet, in affirming (PRONOUN) baptism here today, (NAME) acknowledges that drowning in these waters (PRONOUN) are dead to sin, and rising from these waters (PRONOUN) are alive to God in Christ Jesus. So we, the gathered, are grateful too for the reminder that we rise from these waters freed from sin and freed to love one another as Christ loves us. 

Let us pray.

Merciful God, we give you thanks for the renewal of life we experience each day in remembering our baptism. Thank you especially today for your beloved child (NAME), who you have made your own in the waters of baptism and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Assure (NAME) and each person gathered here today of the gifts and promises you make in baptism for us. Fill us with your Spirit and unite the beautifully diverse hearts of those whom you have brought into new birth. Amen.

ELW #814 – Take, Oh, Take Me As I Am

Profession of Faith

We profess our faith together as a sign of our unity in the body of Christ.

(NAME), here among your friends and your siblings in Christ who affirm your identity, I ask you to join us as we all profess our faith in Jesus together.

Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God? If so, say ‘I renounce them.’

All Gathered Respond: I renounce them!

Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God? Powers that divide, exclude and oppress. Powers that deny the image of God stamped on every person? If so, say ‘I renounce them.’

All Gathered Respond: I renounce them!

Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God? If so, say ‘I renounce them.’

All Gathered Respond: I renounce them!

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Affirmation by the Assembly

The presiding minister addresses the one making a public affirmation of baptism.

(NAME), today you have made a courageous public profession of your faith in the Triune God who loves you so very much. Going forward, do you intend to trust in God’s renewing Spirit gifted to you in your baptism: to live into the new life of Christ’s resurrection, to love and serve all, to encounter Jesus in the meal and the word proclaimed, and to strive for justice and peace in the world and right here in this community? If so, please respond, ‘I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.’

I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

The presiding minister addresses the assembly.

And now, people of God gathered here in support and love for (NAME), this is for you. God claims each one of us with delight, and we claim one another as companions in faith. Do you promise to support and encourage (NAME), this beloved child of God, this creation for whom Christ died? Do you promise to pray for (PRONOUN) and be drowned with (PRONOUN) daily so that we can arise together, joined by God’s great love into the body of Christ? If so, please respond, ‘We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.’

We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

The presiding minister may pour water into the font or interact with the water already present.

Look, here is water! What is to prevent us from receiving the gifts of God in baptism? 

The presiding minister makes the sign of the cross on the one making a public affirmation of baptism.

(NAME), child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and marked with the cross of Christ forever. 

Amen.

Let us pray.

We give you thanks, O God, that through the water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life. Stir up in (NAME) and your people the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.

ELW #581 – You Are Mine

Like the Ethiopian eunuch, go out from this place today rejoicing, joined by the Holy Spirit to Christ and to one another, forgiven, redeemed, and beloved. And (NAME), remember, Christ is with you always, to the end of the age. 

Sources:

 1 From Enfleshed.com (https://enfleshed.com/liturgy/remembrance-of-baptism/)

Affirmation of Baptism structure and some text from ELW pp. 234-237.