North Carolina school baptizes more than 100 students without asking their parents for permission 

A North Carolina school has baptized more than 100 students without asking permission from their parents.

Northwood Temple Academy said the pupils volunteered to undergo the important religious ritual after they ‘spontaneously declared their faith’.

Only three middle and high school students were scheduled to be baptized at the ceremony before others wanted to join in.

The school proudly boasted of how many children were moved to join in with the ceremony on its Facebook page

Parents have hit out at the Christian school, saying it should not be their decision and parents would have liked to attend such a big occasion in their children’s lives.

Some got in touch with teachers, saying it was a breach of their parental rights. 

One parent said her 11-year-old daughter was baptized while she was working on a conference call. 

She told the Fayettesville Observer: ‘My daughter calls me from the school and says, “Mama, can you bring me some dry clothes? I got baptized today. I said, “WHAT?”‘

Another said she felt it ‘undid the baptism that had already taken place at church’. 

The school proudly boasted of how many children were moved to join in with the ceremony on its Facebook page.

A pastor’s wife said how the Holy Spirit ‘stirred the hearts’ of the students who suddenly wanted to undergo the baptism

It said: ‘I feel it in my bones, You’re about to move! 

‘Today we had over 100 middle and high school students spontaneously declare their faith and get baptized today. 

‘We will have more pictures of these powerful moments posted over the next couple of days!’

But a number of parents have since complained to the principal, Renee McLamb.

She said in an email to the Observer: ‘In hindsight, we would do it differently and give the students an opportunity to contact their parents and ask permission to be baptized. 

‘We were not expecting such an overwhelming response to the message that was spoken, but as a mother I certainly can empathize with why some parents were upset.’

Many have criticized the school online for not involving the parents in the important decision

The school was taking part in Spiritual Emphasis Week which includes three days of chapel on top of normal classes.

Pastor’s wife Liz Ray, who was present at the ceremony, said on Facebook: ‘This morning’s baptisms was closing Spiritual Emphasize week and there were only two souls scheduled to getting baptized. 

‘All week long the HS and MS teachers and administration poured themselves out in obedience to Father God. 

‘Then suddenly the Holy Spirit stirred the hearts of the HS and MS students and they began to respond to Him to make a declaration of faith —a public declaration of their salvation in Christ. 

‘But there weren’t enough towels and the students kept going up wanting to get baptized! We tried to get the towels dry enough for the next person. However, over 100 students responded.’

MailOnline has contacted the school for comment.