Christening
If you have questions regarding the Christening of your child, feel free to contact your integration vicar Marjun Lómaklett (ml@kirkjan.fo or phone 237345) on or your local vicar (LINK).
Birth, Christening and naming
When a child is born, the midwife submits a birth notification to the vicar or the church office of the mother’s parish. The vicar or the church office then forwards the birth notification to the national register and the mother’s local registration office.
The child must be Christened no later than six months after birth.
Parents should notify the vicar or the church office of the child’s name. The name must correspond with the existing name regulations. A name certificate will be issued, and the vicar or the church office submits a name notification to the national register, the mother’s local registration office and the name committee.
If the parents are not married, proof of paternity must be provided.
If, in addition to naming a child, the child is to be Christened, the parents likewise notify the vicar or the church office of the child’s name and details of godparents.
Prior to the Christening, the parents will consult with the vicar in charge of the Christening.
After the Christening, a certificate of baptism is issued, and the vicar/church office clerk submits name and baptism notifications to the national register, the mother’s local registration office and the name committee.
If a child is Christened outside of its parish, the vicar/church office clerk notifies the child’s home parish. The parents may be issued baptism certificates from both the child’s home parish and the parish in which the child was Christened.
Christening must take place in the child’s home parish.
Parents residing abroad who wish to have their child baptised in the Faroe Islands are to provide the vicar in charge of the Christening with details about the child and its parents. These documents are available in the relevant Danish parish church office.
Since Danish and Faroese name regulations are different in many respects, Christening the child prior to arrival in the Faroe Islands may be a sensible way to avoid name complications.
Parents residing outside of Denmark are likewise required to bring the documents required in their country of residence.
The Church of the Faroe Islands Christens children and adults alike.
For adult Christenings, the vicar is to provide teaching and preparation prior to the Christening.
Baptism is a sacrament which means: a Holy rite instituted by Jesus Christ through Holy water.
The baptism commandment
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20.
But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:4-5.
Through baptism, we are reborn with water and the Holy Spirit, and our sins are forgiven. “Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts of the Apostles 2:38
We thus become not only part of the church, but also part of the body of Christ, which is his holy church in heaven and on Earth.
We must believe and live in the baptism. ”We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4
Who can be a godparent?
A godparent is required to have been baptised in the Christian faith. This means that members of other Christian churches or ecclesial communities may stand as godparents. Confirmation age (13-14 years) is generally regarded a minimum age for being a godparent.