Rethinking Baptism

This month, I facilitated two adult baptisms: one for a friend of a member of our church and another for a caregiver for two others. Both individuals contacted me and after some discussion, I was pleased to baptism them and encourage them in their Christian discipleship. These two baptisms urged me to rethink my theology and the baptismal practices of the Church.

Baptism is one of the two sacraments in the Protestant church. Along with Holy Communion, it is, as John Wesley understood it, 'an outward sign of inward grace.’  It is a way for us to experience the grace of God. In the United Methodist Church, Baptism is seen as a covenant between the individual, God and the church community.

But how do we approach baptism when the individual is not a part of the church community? Do we exclude those we encounter who want to be baptized and make a commitment to a Christian life, but are not and will not be a part of our local church community? 

As an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, my answer is supposed to be, “yes.” Baptism only happens within the context of the local church. As stated in the UMC’s theological statement, “The covenant connects God, the community of faith, and the person being baptized; all three are essential to the fulfillment of the baptismal covenant. The faithful grace of God initiates the covenant relationship and enables the community and the person to respond with faith.”

And yet, as a missionary, I encounter people who - although not a part of the church community - need those encounters with God, those ‘means of grace' offered through Holy Communion and Baptism that can make a dramatic impact on the lives of Christian followers. In this case, there is tension between tradition of the Methodist Church and my experience as a missionary, and so I adapt.

I believe that Baptism is at the heart of the gospel and every person should have access to it. Although it is a personal commitment between an individual and God, it is facilitated by a pastor and supported by a community. In each of the baptisms I performed this month, the individual baptized was supported by members of THEIR community: friends who pledge to support them in their Christian life and faith. Each of these individuals may or may not be a part of our church family at La Siesta Evangelical Church, but they are part of our extended family. And we pledge, through our membership, through our outreach, through our friendship and commitments to one another, to support them in their Christian journeys. 

May God bless Gordon and Carrie. May God bless us as we support our Christian brothers and sisters, wherever we may find them.