Broadway United Methodist Church

Broadway United Methodist Church

Weekly Worship Services
Baptisms
Holy Communion
Weddings / Holy Unions
Funerals / Memorial Services

Policy and Practice
(revised: 12/6/03)

Certain worship practices, rites and sacraments of the church have different understandings in different Christian denominations and even different congregations within the denominations. We offer here the policies and practices relating to weekly worship services, Baptism, Holy Communion, Weddings / Holy Unions, and Funerals / Memorial Services at Broadway United Methodist Church. We hope you find these helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact the church office or our pastoral staff if you have any questions or comments about any of what is presented.

Weekly Worship Services
(Please open the document "Worship Brochure." (PDF File) Additional resources are available from the pastors.)

General Understandings Regarding Rites and Sacraments

• None of the policies are without exception. They are offered not as rigid rules but as the places from which we begin to explore any of the special services and the circumstances of their enactment. Broadway’s pastors have final responsibility for determining the appropriate application of the policies.
  
  
• These services are offered primarily for members and constituents of the Broadway congregation. Some are restricted to that community with very few exceptions (e.g. Baptism). Others often are available beyond the congregation (e.g. Funerals / Memorial Services). The celebration of Holy Communion and Weddings and Holy Unions fall somewhere in between on the range of availability.
  
  
• With the exception of Holy Communion, there are few occasions when services are done "privately." All of the services are connected to the awareness and participation of community. However, it is recognized that special circumstances sometimes requires that such awareness and participation be symbolic more than actual.

Baptism
(Be sure to reference the documents, "Understanding Baptism" and the liturgies for Infant and Adult Baptisms)

Infant Baptisms

1. Services of infant Baptism are almost always done in the context of regularly scheduled Sunday morning worship and are scheduled in consultation with one of the pastors.

2. Because Baptism claims and enacts a covenant between parent/guardian and congregation, at least one guardian/parent must be a member of the congregation.

3. Infant baptisms are celebrated for children two years old or younger. Parents/guardians are encouraged to have infants baptized early in the first six months of life. Children older than two years, normally would wait for the age of Confirmation (approximately 13 years old) or adulthood for baptism.

4. "Sponsors" or "Godparents" are optional for infant baptism. When guardians/parents decide to invite someone to claim that responsibility they must ascertain the willingness of that person or persons to act on behalf of Christ’s church in offering support and accountability to the parents in matters of the Christian faith and life.

Adult Baptism

1. Persons who have been baptized at some time in their life in any Christian context are not to be re-baptized.

2. Because baptism affirms, among other realities, entrance into the Community of Faith, the sacrament is celebrated for adults only when church membership is also being claimed.

3. Because membership in the church is predicated on claiming the Christian faith, persons who wish to join the church must be baptized before taking the vows of membership.

Holy Communion

• Holy Communion or The Eucharist is offered at the 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sunday morning worship services on the first Sunday of every month. It is offered on the first and third Sundays at the 8:15 a.m. worship service. It is also celebrated at numerous special services (e.g. Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, weddings and Holy Unions).
  
• Individuals who wish to receive the sacrament at other times or wish to have it brought to someone are encouraged to contact one of the pastors.
  
• All "persons of faith" are invited to receive the sacrament. In our practice of "open Communion" there are no prerequisites for membership or participation in any particular community of faith or any community of faith at all.

Funerals / Memorial Services

(A Funeral Service is one in which the body of the person who has died is present. A Memorial Service is one without the presence of the body and most often occurs after burial or cremation.)

• At the time of a death one of the pastors should be notified at the earliest opportunity.
  
  
• The character of Funeral / Memorial Services is one of recognizing the reality and power of death but claiming the still more powerful gift of life. Such services focus on thanksgiving for and celebration of the life of the person who has died.
  
  
• Services are scheduled and designed in consultation between the family/friends of the person who died and the pastor. Arrangements must not be considered finalized without that consultation. If desired the pastor may be available to meet with the family/friends in their consultation with the funeral director.
  
  
• When possible services should be held in the Church’s sanctuary – especially if the person has been part of the congregation.
  
  
• For Funeral Services the casket is to be closed before the service begins. It is not to be re-opened at any time after that.
  
  
• Masonic, military, fraternal or other rituals should be conducted and completed before the Funeral or Memorial Service begins.
  
  
• The "clergy fee" recommended by many funeral directors should be a check written to "Broadway United Methodist Church: Good Samaritan Account" and given to the pastor. In most circumstances the amount should be not less than $150.
  
  
• Arrangements for musicians and their fees should be made in consultation with the pastor.