For Christians, dedication ceremonies for babies are a special and memorable time for parents and the church. They often happen during a congregation’s main worship service when parents present their child before God and the church community, similar to how families did in the Bible. Both parents, along with the congregation, regard this as a solemn promise to be a Christ-like example to the child.
That’s why baby dedications are a significant step in the undertaking of Christian parenting. So let’s take a closer look at what Seventh-day Adventist baby dedications are like. We’ll learn:
- Where the practice of child dedication came from
- The purpose of child dedications—how it benefits church, parents, and child
- What happens at a baby dedication ceremony
- At what age children can be dedicated
Let’s begin by looking at the origins and history of faith-based baby dedications.
Where the practice of child dedication came from
Baby dedication is nothing new. We find references to it in the Bible as early as Exodus 13:1-2. Scripture also describes two specific and significant child dedications.
Examples in the Bible
We can read about the dedication of the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:27-28. Hannah, a woman who couldn’t have children, prayed earnestly to God to be able to have a child. God answered her prayer and she had a baby boy.
In thankfulness toward God for answering her prayer, she promised to “lend him [Samuel] to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:28, NKJV). So when Samuel was old enough to be away from his mother, he served at the temple. And he grew up to be one of the most well-known prophets.
The other example is in the New Testament, and it involves none other than Jesus Himself. Luke 2:22-38 describes how Joseph and Mary took Jesus, when he was a few months old, to Jerusalem to “present Him to the Lord” (verse 22, NASB), which was done in honor of Exodus 13:1-2, 12 that talk about “consecrating” the firstborn to the Lord.
A local man named Simeon recognized Jesus was the Messiah, and, echoing the prophecies concerning Jesus, blessed Jesus and prayed over him.
It was quite beautiful. We’re told that Simeon “took Him in his arms, and blessed God and said,
‘Now, Lord, You are letting Your bondservant depart in peace, according to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared in the presence of all the people:
A light for revelation for the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel’” (NKJV).
Jesus went on to fulfill that prediction. He died on the Cross for all of our sins, making a way for each of us to have salvation.
Modern-day Baby Dedications
But a modern baby dedication we’re likely to see at many Protestant Christian churches has its roots in the 1500s with the Anabaptist Movement.1 In a nutshell, Anabaptists are Protestants who believe people should only be baptized by their own choice, when they make a conscious and intentional decision to accept Jesus. They felt that baptizing babies, who were too young to even understand this decision, did not acknowledge or consider the free will God created us with.
However, each child is a wonderful blessing from God, and that is a reason to celebrate! So instead of infant baptism, they upheld the biblical practice of child dedication.
And this is actually more of a focus on the commitment and responsibility of the parents, even though the child is being celebrated. The ceremony itself involves the parents, with the support of their faith community, making a pledge to God to raise their child with His guidance, and to introduce the child to Jesus.
This tradition stuck. Many Protestant denominations regularly hold child dedications as part of their church services or other church gatherings.
The same goes for Adventist churches. While there are many norms and traditions that go along with this ceremony, the Adventist Church Manual does not provide instructions that must be followed. It is up to the congregation, its leadership, and the family to determine what they would like to do for this memorable occasion.
Why babies are dedicated
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Children have always held a special kind of importance to God. The Bible says that “children are a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3, NKJV). Jesus even told his disciples that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children (Matthew 19:14). And since it was customary throughout the Bible to dedicate a child to God’s will and guidance, it shows that God wants to be lovingly involved in parenting these special little humans as well.
But as an easy way to sum up these sentiments, here are four primary reasons we dedicate babies in the Adventist Church:
- To express thanks to God for the miracle of birth. A new life is a precious thing. A child’s dedication recognizes God’s gift to a family and demonstrates deep gratitude toward Him.
- To ask God to bless and guide our children. Growing up is never easy. And while parents can provide a loving home, a Christ-like influence, and as many opportunities for growth as they can, no parents are perfect. What’s more, they won’t be the only influences in their child’s life, and they can’t make all their child’s decisions for them. This special dedication is a solemn prayer to God to guide and protect their child.
- To dedicate children to God’s will. “Dedicating” is another word for consecrating, which means to set something apart as distinct and special, often for a holy purpose. At a baby dedication, parents choose to place God at the center of their parenting. Rather than solely relying on the world’s knowledge and trends, they promise to make decisions with their child’s spiritual well-being in mind, and to model a live of service to others. The parents recognize that God’s will is perfect, and they vow to yield to His influence as they raise their precious young ones.
- To make a public commitment to raise children in a loving Christian home, and welcoming the congregation to show their support. Making a commitment in front of others who care about you just makes it all the more significant and meaningful, and it demonstrates how important this is to you—and to God. It’s a way to involve the whole church family in supporting and encouraging you in your parental journey.
It’s always a beautiful thing to see parents who deeply love their children and want to raise them in a caring faith community.
This ceremony is a way to acknowledge that importance while also encouraging a church family to maintain a strong, supportive bond, taking time to celebrate each new life. Parents also want their friends and relatives to share this special time with them, and you’ll often see grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends standing up with them during the ceremony.
As members of the congregation sitting in the audience, we are reminded of our Christian obligation towards this young life being presented up front. We are responsible for our words and actions towards this child. Never should we say or do anything that would discourage them from forming a relationship with Jesus, and becoming the person He wants them to be.
So how exactly does a baby dedication go? Let’s take a look.
What typically happens at a baby dedication ceremony?
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Firstly, while child dedications are cherished and spiritually-significant occasions, they are not required for Adventists. They do not affect a family or child’s standing within the denomination or the local congregation. They are meant to be the prerogative of each individual family, and there are countless ways that a child can be dedicated to God. There is no prescribed “formula” for how this ceremony should go.
But as for common child dedication practices among Adventist congregations, here’s what you are most likely to encounter.
It’s typical among Adventists to hold a dedication ceremony during the main church service, when most of the church family is present. But there are times when families might prefer a smaller, separate gathering, or to invite the pastor to their home for a private ceremony.
(Note: While some Protestant Christian denominations do hold infant baptism ceremonies, the Adventist Church does not equate a baby dedication with an infant baptism or christening. We are “credobaptists,” which means we believe a person should only be baptized once they are old enough to make a personal decision to follow Jesus.)2
When babies are dedicated, this is a demonstration of commitment by the parents and family of the child. It does not automatically make the child a baptized member of the church, though the family and congregation vow to do their best to encourage spiritual development and church involvement.
When it comes to the dedication ceremony itself, most are short and to the point. On average, about 5-15 minutes (since most babies and young children might have a hard time staying still while up front!). It’s also most common for these dedications to take place within a typical weekly Sabbath worship service. The family and the child’s name will likely be listed in the church bulletin.
At the appropriate time in the church service, the pastor invites the newly-expanded family to the front of the church with the pastor. Sometimes additional family or friends will join the parents up front, or they will stand by their seats in support.
If a family wishes to, some baby pictures might be shown on a screen during the ceremony, or someone might read a Bible verse that is meaningful to the family.
The pastor begins the dedication by asking the parents to affirm the biblical principles they will use in the raising of this child. These usually follow the theme of making an intentional effort to model themselves after Christ’s example, and to teach their child about their loving Creator.
Next, the pastor addresses the congregation, calling for them to commit to supporting this child and their family, pledging to help nurture their faith in Jesus as they grow.
After everyone has affirmed their commitment, the pastor prays over the child, both to bless them and dedicate them to God. The parents, siblings, and extended family are mentioned in prayer as well, asking God to provide them with courage and wisdom as they become teachers, influencers, and caregivers to this child.3
After the prayer, the pastor presents them with a small gift or commemorative certificate that symbolizes their commitment to bring up their child in a Christian environment.4
What age are babies dedicated?
The Adventist Church doesn’t have a required age, minimum or maximum, at which babies can or must be dedicated. It’s up to the parents when they feel ready.
Most Christian parents choose to dedicate their babies within the first year after they’re born, with an estimated average age of between 4 and 8 months old.5
However, this may not be the case for every family. Sometimes new members want to dedicate their children, even if they’re much older than babies. This is perfectly acceptable, too. It all depends on the situation and needs of the family. If a family wants to dedicate and consecrate their parenting efforts in a public manner that involves their church family, no one is going to refuse!
But if you still have questions about the best time or method for dedicating your children, you can always talk to your local pastor. Since there aren’t set “rules” when it comes to the age of the children or the type of ceremony it needs to be, a pastor will be more than willing to discuss how to orchestrate the most appropriate and meaningful dedication for your child.
After all, the whole point is for your family and the church to make a formal promise together, for the benefit of your children, in the presence of God. As long as that happens, the rest are just details.
No matter how they are done, baby dedications are a precious time for a family and a church.
They have the unique ability to bring together a faith community, parents, and relatives in a united effort to bring up a young child in an environment that introduces them to Jesus and His self-sacrificing love.
Learn more about Adventist families and households by visiting our page on
You can also learn more about making a decisive commitment to Jesus by reading
Find a Church
If you’re interested in finding a local Adventist church near you, you can use the Adventist Locator provided by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Related Articles
- MacGregor, Kirk R., A Central European Synthesis of Radical and Magisterial Reform, p.144. [↵]
- “Credobaptist,” https://www.yourdictionary.com/credobaptist [↵]
- “Child Parent Dedication,” https://www.capitolhillsdachurch.org/contentpages.aspx?p=a3abd2d8-eaf4-4b99-8217-d0109dbe967b [↵]
- “Baby Dedication,” https://victoryny.adventistchurch.org/ministries/special-services/special-services—infant-dedication. [↵]
- “Child Parent Dedication,” https://www.capitolhillsdachurch.org/contentpages.aspx?p=a3abd2d8-eaf4-4b99-8217-d0109dbe967b. [↵]
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