Accompanying the Journey

Description:
Accompanying the Journey is a practical handbook designed to help sponsors in United Methodist congregations (and congregations in other denominations) develop a ""hands on"" approach to guiding individuals who seek initiation into the Christian faith through baptism. Using the metaphor of ""presentation,"" the book outlines crucial ways in which sponsors embody the congregation's welcome--both in and outside worship services--as they accompany adult initiates to the waters of baptism. The book also provides extensive guidance for sponsoring children for baptism and for sponsoring adults returning to the baptismal covenant.

This book
. provides a helpful overview of the process of Christian initiation
. outlines in detail the responsibilities of sponsors in the worship services connected with the initiation process
. helps sponsors understand their relationships with the congregation and with others who lead the work of making disciples
. provides church leaders with guidelines for selecting, forming, and nurturing sponsors, including a discussion of the place of discernment in the process
. presents a brief overview of the role and historical context of sponsors in the Christian tradition and in Methodism
. includes an appendix containing ""An Order for Commissioning Sponsors""

About the Contributor(s):
Lester Ruth (PhD, University of Notre Dame) writes with the goal of appropriating worship history for renewal today, including his latest book on fourth-century Jerusalem, Walking Where Jesus Walked. This appropriation has been his interest since his service as a United Methodist minister in Texas. Currently he is Research Professor of Christian Worship at Duke Divinity School. He also teaches in the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.