Asking clergy about christening/baptism

The recent christening of Prince George, infant son of England's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has brought the traditional religious ceremony to the world stage.

What exactly is a christening? And, if one is christened, does he or she also need to be baptized? This week's clergy explain the two religious ceremonies.

Brother Gary Cregan, O.S.F., principal, St. Anthony's High School, South Huntington:

In its essence, there is no difference between a baptism and a christening. Both explain an outward sign instituted by Christ that gives grace.

Christening is most likely a Middle English term for baptism.

For Christians in the Reformed

tradition of the 16th century, some of the medieval additions to a baptism

ceremony such as placing salt on an infant's tongue and performing what might be considered an exorcism were removed. The essential baptism of a person is with water while pronouncing the Trinity's name.

In some Reformed traditions, they would not baptize an infant, an act they consider ceremonial. We don't make that age distinction.

For Catholics, it is an imperative that the child be brought into the community of the church as soon as possible, hence infant baptism. There is Biblical evidence in Paul's letters about a Roman centurion being baptized and then having his entire household baptized, family and servants.

I was baptized as an infant. Catholics don't rebaptize people who were

baptized as infants, although some

denominations do. Of course, if someone comes to the faith as an adult, we will baptize them. The term christening could be used for an adult, but it would be an odd thing to say, as it is associated with infants.

What happened to Prince George in his christening ceremony is that he became a Christian.

Pastor James Krauser, Grace Evangelical

Lutheran Church, North Bellmore:

Among Lutherans, for many years the word was used synonymously, though christening has tended to fall out of usage in the past 40 years. Of course, you hear people talk about christening gown and christening parties. Part of the difference in understanding likely has to do with English and American understanding.

The word christening is exactly what it sounds like. It is related to the name of Christ and speaks to being anointed by God.

There is the term chrismation, which includes an anointing with oil and laying on of hands. Christening is also associated with the giving of a name.

As Lutherans understand it, christening and chrismation are the same. You become a Christian. Godparents, or adult sponsors, are part of the baptism process. While some use a christening as the actual naming ceremony, Lutherans don't make that distinction. Lutherans also can have a christening ceremony for an adult.

Whether there is a difference between baptism and christening depends on the religious group's understanding of baptism and whether they recognize other than adult baptisms. By adult, we mean anyone who can consent for him or herself. Lutherans do perform infant baptisms, but we don't do naming ceremonies. While we don't formally use the word christening, we don't yell at people who do. But, if someone called up and said they wanted their child dedicated (christened) but didn't want them baptized, I'd suggest they go to a church that does that because we don't.

The Rev. Thomas Smoot, retired Methodist minister living in Centereach, formerly pastor at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Northport:

Baptism is the bringing of a person into the family of the church. As Methodists, we like to bring a child in as early as possible. Christening is the term where a Christian name is given to a child. These two things usually happen simultaneously.

Although the two are almost used interchangeably, they are different in that the baptism is an acceptance into the Christian community either on one's own part or on the part of the parents. The child becomes a member of the church body.

There are differences between different denominations. For example, Baptists only baptize those who are at an age of consent, meaning he or she can decide for him or herself.

In the Methodist tradition, the church has a responsibility for raising a child in a Christian church, a Christian home, a Christian environment.

Methodists do use the term christening, but they really mean baptism.

And we give the child the name that the parents have given the child.