I found out that there are some churches that do charge fees for baptism based on some sources. I'm so glad baptism is not mandatory for salvation

One church website I found had

At this time we thought it would be helpful to inform you of the obligatory fees to the Community.

Baptismal fees:

$200 for the service fee and both the family and the Koumbari each pay a membership fee of $75 to a maximium of $350 and be a baptized member in good standing with the Orthodox Church.

Another one I found charges $25 to enroll or register for a baptism preparation course that is required before baptism.

According to some sources, it's probably a lot cheaper to go to Six Flags Theme Parks than to get baptized.

That's crazy. I didn't pay anything when I got baptized!

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Day by day.. Day by day.. Oh, dear Lord three things I pray. To see thee more clearly, to love thee more dearly, to follow thee more nearly.. Day by day..

never heard of such

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Denise

Those churches are so wrong.. I never heard of such a thing. They are just in it for the money if you ask me

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Keep Your face to the SUNSHINE and you cannot see the shadows. ~Helen Keller~

http://www.gospelway.com/salvation/baptism_purpose.php

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Keep Your face to the SUNSHINE and you cannot see the shadows. ~Helen Keller~

The Orthodox church is not what I would call a Christian church so that would make sense, making merchandise of people. Sounds more like the Mormons than the Bible.

I don't know that charging for baptism is the norm in the Orthodox Chuch. Of course, the Orthodox Church is actually more or less made up of several Orthodox churches who enjoy some level of autonomy from one another, so we can't really refer to them as "The" Orthodox Chuch, because there is no one person in charge of all of them. Maybe some individual churches do charge a fee, but I doubt it is the standard.

Sometimes it is common for some families to make donations to their church when their child is baptised, but again, not required. I know mine was free! It is actually forbidden to sell baptism in my Church...it's called simony and it is wrong.

Oh, and I found the link to the site Shyness mentioned for reference:

http://www.evangelismososhawa.com/services_baptism.html

"The Orthodox Church consists of many autonomous Churches, that is, self-governing churches according to canon law which is common to all of them. These churches, mostly "Ethnical" churches are fully in communion with one another" They are in communion with one another, but each one can governs itself, so to speak.

One thing to consider for such a church is that typically the fee is not for the baptism itself. To make sure that the person to be baptised understands the faith so that they can make a sound judgement to join the church - or in the case of infant baptism practiced by the Orthodx, makig sure the parents understand the gravity of what they are agreeing to do in raising their child as a Christian - the person or people involved are required to take pre-baptismal classes. The time and materials used in these classes, as well as the time of the instructor, is covered by the fee. The materials used at baptism are also paid for because they are often an expensive comodity. In Catholic baptism, apart from water, oil is used to annoint the head of the baptised to symbolize being set apart from the world much as it was used in the OT. I suspect the Orthodox also use this for the same reason. These things cost money and are not cheap, so if a fee is charged, it is to help cover the cost of materials, class, and teachers. Obviously, if one could not afford the fee, I seriously doubt they would be denied baptism. The fee does not pay for the baptism.

It's heresy to sell baptism in any church.

I personally think that if a church I was going to wanted to charge me to get baptized; I would be looking for another church. REAL FAST!!

Charging for baptism?? That doesnt sound right. Baptism is a sign of obedience, not something to make money off of. My church charges money to rent the building for weddings and stuff, but baptism is free.

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JESUS PAYED THE PRICE WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS THAT A DISGRACE TO GOD I WOULD NOT WONT TO BE THEM WHENTHEY DIE STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAUSE THEY HAVE APROBLEM FIND ANOTHER CHURCH QUICK IN A HURRY.

find another church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd pay them to get a clue. Fools.

That's ridiculous. Looks like they're just in it for the money. Baptism doesn't cost money. It's about you and God. You don't have to pay money to God to get saved, why would we have to pay to get closer to Him? Seriously. That's why I don't like that many churches, because they DO charge for things like that. I mean, fundraisers are great. I am SO for them. But having to pay just to have a baptism is so dumb. It's kinda like, "Hey, who wants to accept Jesus in their lives? Come up to the altar. But you need to pay 10 dollars." SERIOUSLY. hahahaha.

Yeah, that is a church you so not want to be involved with...

Lets see I wouldnt pay for a Baptism,or to sit in their church. Thats not right. they should'nt be able to charge for things like that.
They are just being Greedy.....

shows that those churches arnt doing Gods will or work cause Jesus wouldnt charge to baptise people nor would John the Baptist. Im glad that Im already baptised both by water and by spirit and I didnt have too pay for it so I wouldnt even park my car in churchs like thats parking lots or go into there buildings.

the beach is free............that's where I was baptised

woooow i bet it was sooo aweseome to be baptized at the beach!!!!!!!