What is a “godparent” and what does s/he do?

Question

Do they have any defined jobs? Are they recognized legally in any way, or is it just a family made title type thing? I just became one, and I have no idea what one does. So... a little help.

Thanks! ^_^

Answer 1

They are supposed to be the primary care givers if anything should happen to your parents.And buy you lots of presents, by the way.

Answer 2

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A correspondent (a mother) asked for advice concerning the minimum age for being a God Parent - in this case an 11 year old baptised cousin. The following is a summary of our reply. “There is no minimum age for godparents ("supporting friends") in the Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child. One of our Committee has commissioned several younger children in this role - down to about the age of 7 or 8. The promise of support can be made by anyone of any age. There isn't a specified minimum age for godparents in the Baptism Service either. But there are two relevant regulations: Canon B23(2) specifies that godparents in the baptism service "shall be persons who will faithfully fulfil their responsibilities", so the godparents need to be of such an age that they can promise for the future as well as for the moment - and this implies that they ought to be at least teenagers. I have heard it argued* that this being able to promise for the future is what marks adulthood off from childhood: it is the main reason that there is a minimum age requirement for marriage, for instance. On that basis you would ask for godparents to be 17 or over. Canon B23(4) specifies that godparents in the baptism service must have themselves been baptised and confirmed - so obviously someone under the age for confirmation cannot be a godparent. In most dioceses it is now against the regulations for the clergy to begin confirmation preparation for someone under the age of 13, and preparation takes at least a few months: so a minimum age on this basis would be 13 1/2. Although the minister has power to dispense with the requirement for confirmation, the reason for this is to allow practising Christians of other denominations (which don't have confirmation) to be appointed as godparents, and the minister would not be acting in the spirit of the Canon were s/he simply to say that the age doesn't matter. So our considered response would be that 12 and under is definitely out, 13-16 might be marginal, and 17 would be the proper minimum age. If this seems a bit indefinite and even a bit legalistic, it really seems to be a matter where the law (ie Canons) has to be interpreted pastorally and in the context of local practice (cf the current difficulties surrounding admitting unconfirmed children to communion). We would encourage the mother to consider a thanksgiving service when there would be no objection to the Cousin being a “supporting friend”. A thanksgiving service should not be thought of as a “second best” option (though sadly some think of and treat it as such). It can and should be conducted with as much “sense of occasions” as a baptism and it does have the benefit that the child then has the option of adult baptism and making their own promises when (of age”. There are an increasing number of committed Christians who take this option. Having said all this it is great to hear of an 11 year old sufficiently interested to consider this important role. If the outcome is that the Minister (or PCC) feel she cannot formally be a Godparent at a baptism, there would of course be nothing against her joining the chosen Godparents round the font and saying the promises even though she would not formally be called a Godparent! Enjoy your baby , and God Bless you :)

Answer 3

What Is A Godparent

Answer 4

A godparent will be the care giver if something was to happen to the child's parents. It helps if the godparent get to know the child too. Presents are extra, but not required. But everyone likes presents!!!

Answer 5

God parents are spiritual leaders, nothing more ...nothing less. Recognized only by the church. All other parenting issues need to done legally in a will, noting a legal guardian of the child. The guardian and godparents can be totally different people.

Answer 6

A godparent is a person who takes care of you if something happens to your parents, basically a relative like an aunt or uncle.

Answer 7

Though its origins are in the Catholic church, it is and has been a long-term tradition for most Christians. I have been told taught that a father has to be so many things to their children that the Godparent is named and honored with the responsibilty of overseeing the spiritual well-being of the child. A surogate-spiritual parent essentially.

Answer 8

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RE:
What is a “godparent” and what does s/he do?
Do they have any defined jobs? Are they recognized legally in any way, or is it just a family made title type thing? I just became one, and I have no idea what one does. So... a little help.

Thanks! ^_^

Answer 9

What Is A God Parent

Answer 10

they give presents, and if the parents die before your 18th b-day you will have to live with one or both of your godparents

Answer 11

I was just asked by my sister to be the god-mother to her son. I wasn't sure what that meant so I did some checking around. From what I have gathered the role of the god-parent is to guide the child spiritually and care for him or her in the event that the child's parents become unable to. If the parents really want you to care for the child in the event of their death or incapacitation though they really need to have something drawn up by a lawyer so that there can be no contradictions or interference from others.