Unfortunately, the term christening has been used sometimes in our history as a way of diminishing the significance of infant baptism or of indicating that it is something different from and less than the baptism of an adult. This view is completely inconsistent with the Wesleyan understanding as expressed in By Water and the Spirit , the Services of the Baptismal Covenant in our hymnal and book of worship, and The Book of Discipline.
Q: Is sprinkling the only way that United Methodists baptize? A: No, our church has always offered to people being baptized and to the parents of infants the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.
A: No, baptism is an act of God, and God does it right the first time. Our side of the covenant relationship with God will need recommitment and reaffirmation, but God always remains faithful to the divine side.
Q: How can I "remember [my] baptism and be thankful" when I was baptized as a baby? A: What we are called to remember in reaffirmation is the gift of God's grace, not a particular event. Through appropriate remembrances and celebrations, our children can be enabled to "remember" their baptism as much as they "remember" their physical birthday.
Q: May a person who has not been baptized participate in Holy Communion? A: Yes, our church does not seek to close God's Table , although the historic and normal Christian order of the sacraments is baptism first -- as birth into the family -- and Communion following, as continuing nurture at the family table.
Pastors and congregations reach out and encourage those who partake at the Table to share fully in the life of God's people, including coming to the font after appropriate preparation.
A: No, the baptism of a baby assumes that the child will be nurtured and formed in the faith at home and at church. Q: How do we express our own decisions to be Christian disciples if we have already been baptized as infants? A: In services of profession of faith and confirmation before the congregation, we respond to God's grace by repenting of our sins, declaring our faith in Jesus Christ, and becoming professing members of the church.
A : No, salvation is a lifelong process during which we must continue to respond to God's grace. Baptism offers the promise that the Holy Spirit will always be working in our lives, but salvation requires our acceptance of that grace, trust in Christ, and ongoing growth in holiness as long as we live.
A: No, but baptism is a gift of God's grace to be received as part of the journey of salvation. To refuse to accept baptism is to reject one of the means of grace that God offers us. Q: How can I recommit myself to Christ when I have had a powerful spiritual experience? A: Confirmation and profession of faith are only the first of our affirmations of faith. As we experience God's work in our ongoing lives of discipleship, we can express our commitment through participation in services of baptismal reaffirmation Baptismal Covenant IV.
A: Yes, baptism is the act of initiation and incorporation into the universal church of Jesus Christ, The United Methodist Church, and the local congregation, as our ritual makes very clear. Q: Is there more than one category of church membership, according to By Water and the Spirit? A: Yes, all people who are baptized become baptized members. Those who are baptized at an age at which they are capable of professing their faith must do so and become professing members as well they cannot choose to be baptized members only.
Baptisms may be scheduled at any of our regular Sunday services, but may not be available on some dates due to special events.
Baptisms are generally not scheduled on the first or third Sunday of any month due to Communion, but exceptions can be made for special family circumstances. Baptisms need to be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance. Families are asked to meet with the pastor before the date of their sacrament. Can I choose my pastor? Can I have a retired pastor or a pastor from another church? The clergy appointed to serve the church generally perform all baptisms.
You are welcome to choose which of the appointed pastors you would like to have officiate at your child's baptism, within the limits of our schedule. If you have another pastor who is a special part of your life and want that individual to help officiate, please discuss this possibility with Pastor Pete. The invitation to the other pastor must always come from one of the clergy appointed to the church.
In The United Methodist Church we don't have "godparents" per se, but we do have baptismal sponsors. These persons are included in the ritual of baptism and commit themselves to supporting your child's faith development.
Sponsors do not need to be church members, but should be baptized Christians. Sponsors are not required for baptism. Two is an ideal number, but one is fine or you may have as many as four. When you meet with a pastor prior to the baptism, you can discuss your plan for sponsors. If there is an individual whom you would like to include in the baptism ritual who is not Christian, please speak to Pastor Pete about it.
There is a tradition of white clothing purity for baptism, but this is strictly optional. If you have an heirloom gown, of course you may use it. But if you do not, please do not feel obligated to purchase something new or expensive for the baptism. Dress your child comfortably!
Parents and sponsors are always included for the ritual at the font. Parents wishing to have their children baptized should approach their local Methodist minister at the earliest possible moment. The minister will be able to explain what's involved. This may involve, in some cases, parents being willing to undertake a number of instruction sessions.
Do different denominations have different baptisms? By Water and the Spirit puts it this way:. Those who are baptized are also confirmed, remembering that our ritual reflects the ancient unity of baptism, confirmation laying on of hands with prayer , and Eucharist. So how does confirmation relate to the question of age? By Water and the Spirit uses the imagery of the roles persons of differing ages play in a family:.
And so, congregations and families should consider the maturity of young people in light of the longer journey into adulthood as they plan for the ritual of confirmation. Are youth ready to signify their lifelong discipleship in the sixth grade? Or in the ninth grade? Or at twenty-one? Or thirty-five? Perhaps there is no single, perfect age for confirmation and profession of faith. Can any person ever fully grasp and commit to all that it means to follow Jesus? Perhaps the important thing is recognition on everyone's part that salvation and baptismal living is a lifelong process.
If parents, church, pastor, and the confirmands live in expectancy that God's grace will always be inviting us to more faith, deeper discipleship, and newer experiences of our calling, then we will not be tempted to think of confirmation as some kind of "graduation" from church or Christian living. Daniel Benedict is retired from the staff of Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission. History of Hymns: 'Take Me to the Water'. A New Ritual for Reaffirmation of Baptism.
Most of those who have served as pastors in the local church have been asked at one time or another if they could rebaptize someone who has had a. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please read our Privacy Policy page.
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