Question About Godparents

[Sthronds]

A friend of mine was asked by a close friend to be the Godmother to her little girl. My friend was then told that it is the Godparent's responsibility to pay for the church and the party after the Christening. I'm a Godmother and I've never heard of that! My friend is a bit upset because she was honored to be asked and now they are asking for money. Is this common?

 

[golfgal]

I have never heard of that either--I would politly decline the request if it came with those strings attached.

 

[wendy46001]

Nope never hear of it and i'm a godmother

A godparent is responsible for the spiritual upbringing of the child…no where does it say ….and fully funding a party for the kid

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Sounds like her friend is just trying to get out of paying.

The only Godparent I know is my bf. He's his nephew's godfather. I'm positive he didn't have to pay anything. No one even brought that up. I've never heard it before.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I think it is customary for Godparents to give a donation to the church at the Baptism. I think that is maybe what is meant by "paying for the Church" because I really don't think Churches charge for Baptism - at least not in my experience.

I've never heard of Godparents being asked to pay for the party.

 

[Cool-Beans]

No, it isn't their responsibility!!! There is a LOT of responsibility to Godparenting (it never ends, IMO), but paying the priest isn't part of it. Yeesh. Good Lord in heaven, pray for these misguided parents.

If she wanted to throw a party, that would be fine (and really nice!), but puhleeze!

When my kids were baptized, we made the donation. I assume that other people do so, as well. I hope I haven't shirked my godmother role.

I ask if I can get the baptism gown for the baby, but many parents prefer to pick it out themselves.

 

[Tikicampers]

I actually just asked my aunt to be DD's Godmother about an hour ago. A Godparent is there for a child to look to with questions about faith. I have never heard of a Godparent paying for anything.

 

[Disneyaunt4]

I am a Godmother of four and have never heard of that. I would say thanks but no thanks.

 

[Tikicampers]

I think it is customary for Godparents to give a donation to the church at the Baptism. I think that is maybe what is meant by "paying for the Church" because I really don't think Churches charge for Baptism - at least not in my experience.

I've never heard of a church charging a fee for baptism either. At the class we had to take when DS was baptized, the deacon told us that some people tip them, but you don't have to.

 

[NAB]

Godparents is what it sounds like. They are there for spiritual guidance, not to give out money and pay for things.

Never heard having to pay for the whole thing and I have five Godchildren.

 

[huckster]

nope never heard of that.. i would be questioning that friendship

 

[Sthronds]

A godparent is responsible for the spiritual upbringing of the child…no where does it say ….and fully funding a party for the kid

This is what I've always been told, and what I assumed responsibility for when I became a Godparent. As for funding the party, I thought it was weird too!

I think it is customary for Godparents to give a donation to the church at the Baptism. I think that is maybe what is meant by "paying for the Church" because I really don't think Churches charge for Baptism - at least not in my experience.

I've never heard of Godparents being asked to pay for the party.

This mother asked another woman to be a co-Godparent, and she is apparently paying $200 for the church. I don't know if it was a donation, or a usage fee for the church. A donation to the church makes sense though. I don't know what Rebecca is going to do. It's sort of sad.

 

[ducklite]

I've got two, soon to be three God children, and I've never been expected to pay for the church, a party, or anything else.

Anne

 

[Missy1961]

I'm the godmother of 3, and I have never been asked to pay for anything. I did pay for my goddaughter's gown (her mom picked it out, I paid), and my godsons' outfits. (again, moms picked them out, I paid). I also paid for my goddaughter's First Communion dress, but that was my choice to do so.

 

[java]

Gowns - yes Party No!
I am godmother to 3 and I paid for the gowns for all 3(and gave a gift) but no way would I have paid for a party and no way would my friends ever even asked that. I offered to buy the gowns- they didn't ask. I would decline that invitation fast.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have never heard of that or tipping or donating money to the church after the baptism! As the godparent, I'd think about paying for more personal things like Bibles (study stuff), dresses etc.
I think those parents want something for nothing. Who pays for the use of the church if you, yourselves, are members there??!

 

[trappednabox]

I have 1 godson, and will have another one very soon, and have never heard of this before. I offered to pay for the party and was told NO, that they wanted to do it, I offered to help pay for something other then the gown, and all they would agree to is letting me buy the cake

 

[TreslovesWDW]

There should be no strings attached. I am a Godparent and with 4 kids have Godparents for all of them. We do a tradition the Godmother buys the outfit and the Godfather the cross , I don't know if that is "law" but it is how we do it. My MIL always gave the church donation. But I paid for the party with the grandparents help, never would ask the Godparents to pay for a party.

 

[Stepht5]

A friend of mine was asked by a close friend to be the Godmother to her little girl. My friend was then told that it is the Godparent's responsibility to pay for the church and the party after the Christening. I'm a Godmother and I've never heard of that! My friend is a bit upset because she was honored to be asked and now they are asking for money. Is this common?

I have never heard of that!! Is the family from Mexico? I ask this because my housekeeper is from Mexico and she has told that in Mexico Godparents don't pay for anything BUT, all of the Mexicans that she knows in the US expect the Godparents or sponsers to pay for everything -- dress, church, party, etc.... She was not happy when her DH's family keep asking them to be Godparents/sponsers. She told her dh that he is to tell them *No* from now on since all they want is the money! LOL!

 

[Anewman]

A friend of mine was asked by a close friend to be the Godmother to her little girl. My friend was then told that it is the Godparent's responsibility to pay for the church and the party after the Christening. I'm a Godmother and I've never heard of that! My friend is a bit upset because she was honored to be asked and now they are asking for money. Is this common?

There are no RULES, LAWS or MANDATORY responsibilities, but some families have some traditions and such.

Some look at Godparents as sponsors.

That being said I have 4 godkids and I always helped(and help) where I could, but the parents never sent me a bill or demand of any kind. We just mutually worked things out.