Content Description

Description of Baptism
Initiation rite
Baptism is the ritual used in most Christian denominations to signify the person's initiation into the beliefs and practices of the Christian community. For
most Christian denominations it also has significance as a statement of a person's beliefs in the Christian tradition and as a necessary element for salvation.
Baptism also allows Christians to share in the death and resurrection of Christ and cleanses people from their sins. The Salvation Army and the Society of
Friends (Quakers) are examples of Christian groups which do not practice baptism.
Infant baptism
For the majority of Christians today Baptism would have been carried out when they were infants. This is the common practice in the Anglican, Catholic
and Orthodox branches of Christianity. In this context the parents and God parents make commitments on behalf of the child and agree to nurture the child
in the Christian faith. In other Christian groups such as the Baptist and Pentecostal Churches the baptism of infants is not accepted and members would
be expected to choose to be baptised as adults having made their own decision to repent and be born again.
Immersion
The idea of baptism stems from the sense of being immersed in water, which, among other things, symbolises the idea of being surrounded by and
imbued with the beliefs and practices of the Christian community. Some theologians liken the symbolism of immersion to that of being completely
saturated with something as with a sponge immersed in water.
Sprinkling or pouring of water
The ritual itself is usually carried out in the Church and is often contained within or celebrated adjacent to the main form of Sunday worship. The majority of
baptisms celebrated in the Anglican and Catholic branches of Christianity involve the sprinkling or pouring of water on the head of the child. In Orthodox
Churches the child is immersed briefly in water on three occasions while adults who are baptised in Churches such as Baptist and Pentecostal Churches
are often fully immersed in water.
Various aspects
Across the different denominations of Christianity there are a variety of aspects included in the ritual of baptism. The core elements, shared across the
spectrum of Christian practice are the baptism with water and the profession of faith by or on behalf of the person being baptised.
The following outlines of a number of rites of baptism from Christian denominations shows some of the other features which are often included in the rite.
Anglican Sacrament of Baptism
The following elements are included in the most simple rite of baptism. Other rites of baptism in the Anglican Church incorporate the rite of Confirmation
and/or the rite of Holy Communion.
Rite outlined
The rite begins with a gathering hymn, psalm or anthem. The Priest or Minister then greets and welcomes the congregation. The Collect of the Day is then
prayed, followed by the lessons from the Scriptures. A sermon is preached which is then followed by the presentation and examination of the candidates.
After this the Baptismal Covenant is prayed and prayers are offered for the candidates. Prayers of thanksgiving and blessing are then prayed over the water
and prayers of consecration are prayed over the oils of Chrism. These prayers are followed by the Baptism, the Lord's prayer and a concluding prayer.
Catholic Sacrament of Baptism
The following outline is the most simple form of baptism used in the Catholic Church. Baptism is often incorporated into the celebration of the Eucharist and
in particular the celebration of the Easter Vigil.
Rite outlined
The rite begins with a welcome and greeting from the Priest or Deacon. This is followed by a questioning of the parents and God parents to confirm their
wish for baptism. After this the Priest or Deacon and the parents and God parents trace the sign of the cross on the child's forehead.
The liturgy of the word follows. This includes readings from the bible and a homily from the Priest or Deacon. The homily is followed by the rite of exorcism
and the anointing with oil. The waters of the baptismal font are then blessed and those present make a profession of faith, including a renunciation of sin.
The Baptism follows, usually involving a pouring of water on the baby's head. The child is then clothed in a white baptismal garment and the parents and
God parents receive a baptismal candle.

The reception of the candle is followed by the ancient prayer of Ephphatha where the Priest or Deacon prays that the child's ears will be open to receive the
word of God and that their mouth will be open to proclaim the Gospel. The Our Father is then prayed followed by a final blessing.
Orthodox Sacrament of Baptism
Orthodox initiation rite
The Orthodox Churches celebrate the sacrament of Baptism within a wider rite of initiation which also includes Chrismation (anointing) and Eucharist. The
baptism involves immersing the child three times in the baptismal font. Full immersion is used rather than sprinkling or pouring of water. The triple immersion
parallels the belief in the Trinity and the prayers coinciding with the immersion invoke the Father, Son and Spirit.
The baptism is followed immediately by the anointing of the body with oils and the proclamation of the seal of the Holy Spirit. This is known as Chrismation.
The child then receives Eucharist immediately after through a small piece of the bread and a few drops of the wine.

Adult Baptism - Believer Baptism

Baptism of adults
All Christian denominations which practice baptism incorporate a rite for the baptism of adults. Among the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox Churches the
majority of people are baptised as children, however, among some other Protestant Churches infant baptism is not practiced at all. These Churches believe
that baptism should be conferred only after a person has made a conscious decision to believe in Jesus Christ. Thus these Churches, such as the Baptist
Church, and most Pentecostal Churches such as Assemblies of God, practice adult baptism, also known as believer baptism.
Baptism in the Spirit
Churches which exclusively practice adult or believer baptism generally do not accept the validity of an infant baptism in another Christian denomination
and usually require a second baptism or a confirmation of baptism sometimes referred to as baptism in the Spirit.
Baptism is regarded as an ordinance in Baptist Churches. This means that it is something that has been ordered or required of them by Jesus as
indicated in the bible.
Baptist tradition
In the Baptist tradition, believer baptism would normally be held as part of the Sunday worship service. Most Baptist Churches are designed with a
baptismal area to allow for the full immersion of believers. This is usually at the front of the Church and adjacent to enclosed areas to allow those being
baptised to prepare by dressing in a baptismal garment and also to change from the wet garments after the baptism.
The Baptist service often includes a testimony by the person being baptised who publicly declares their faith in Jesus.
Pentecostal Churches
In Pentecostal Churches there are few set patterns or rites, however, baptism is usually done through full immersion and many Pentecostal groups will
carry out baptisms in public places such as beaches, rivers and lakes where full immersion can be practiced. The may also decide to use a swimming pool
for the rite.
Baptism and the Beliefs of Christianity
Ancient origins
The origins of the practice of baptism are quite ancient, pre-dating Christianity itself. It seems apparent that some Jewish groups were practising
baptism prior to the ministry of Jesus. Indeed, John the Baptist, who is presented in the Gospels as a forerunner to the ministry of Jesus had
baptism as the hallmark of his own ministry (Mark 1:4).
Jesus' baptism
Jesus himself accepted the baptism of John (Mark 1:9) and gave instructions to his followers to baptise people in his name (Matthew 28:19).
Obviously the practice of baptism has great significance in the Christian tradition and indeed it relates to and expresses a number of important
beliefs.
Water the central symbol
The use of water as the central symbol of baptism reflects the belief in God as creator and humankind's dependence on God. It calls to mind
images of the waters of chaos from the Genesis accounts of creation (Genesis 1:2) as well as the destructive power of the flood in the story of
Noah (Genesis 7-8) and finally the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea in the accounts of the Exodus (Exodus 14).

Water and the Spirit

The image of water also calls to mind the image of the womb and the discussion of rebirth in water and the Spirit in John's Gospel (John 3). This
imagery of this story closely parallels the Christian understanding of baptism as a rebirth from original sin into the life of the Spirit.
Repentance
The Christian understanding of baptism contains a sense of the repentance highlighted in the ministry of John the Baptist, even though John
himself announced that his ministry was only a preparation for the one who was to come (Matthew 3). Despite this, the act of repentance
proclaimed in John's baptism expresses the idea of turning away from sin which is integral to the practice of baptism. Christians believe that in
baptism they are turning away from or renouncing sin and evil and turning in a positive way to live the life of the Spirit.
Body of Christ
The practice of baptism in the Christian tradition also expresses the belief of Christians in the Church as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Christians are baptised into the Church, which is the body of Christ, and as a consequence of becoming part of this body the believer is able to
experience more fully the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In a spiritual sense, the believer is able to participate through the
body of Christ in the mystery of Jesus' dying and rising.
Early Church
The early Church community as depicted in the Acts of the Apostles regarded baptism as a necessary element of salvation (Acts 2:38). It was a
sign of their repentance, proclaimed their forgiveness from sin and allowed them to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The beliefs that baptism is
integral to salvation, that it signifies repentance and forgiveness of sin and that it allows for the coming of the Spirit are important beliefs of the
Christian faith that are expressed in the practice of baptism.
Symbols and ritual actions
The symbols used during the rite of baptism also express significant beliefs of the Christian tradition. The most obvious of these is the sign of
the cross which is used in a number of places in the rite. This simple symbol and ritual action expresses the Christian belief in the triune God
which is at the heart of the Christian faith.
Symbolism of water
The water is another important symbol and, as it has already been noted, one that provides rich symbolism and links to many ideas in the
Christian tradition. The symbol of water reflects the belief in rebirth and in cleansing from sin which are at the heart of the Christian gospel.
Anointing
The anointing with the oil of Chrism is another important symbol. Oil is a traditional symbol for healing and strength and is also used in the
sense of mandating or setting someone aside for a purpose. This sense is seen in the anointing of a king such as the anointing of Saul, the first
king of the Jewish nation (1 Samuel 10:1-3). In baptism, Christians are anointed with oil as a sign of their mandate to share in the ministry of
Jesus.
White garment
Another symbol is found in the use of a white garment. This symbolises the purity of the baptised person and expresses the idea that in baptism
the individual is cleansed from original sin. Baptism is therefore a new beginning for Christians.
Baptismal candle
The giving of a candle to the parents and God parents or to the newly baptised person also conveys significant expressions of Christian belief.
On one hand it brings to mind notions of Jesus being the light of the world (John 8:12) as well as the word of God being a guiding light for
people to follow (Psalm 119:105). The image of the light also symbolises the conflict between good and evil and the idea of light dispelling the
darkness in and through the ministry of Jesus (John 1:4-6). Finally the symbol of the light expresses the idea of the gifts bestowed on the
individual and their responsibility to use these gifts in service to others (Matthew 5:16).

The Significance of Baptism for Individuals and the Christian Community

Baptism is clearly a most significant practice for most Christian denominations. It has profound significance for the person who is baptised and is also
important for the Christian community as a whole. The significance can be viewed from a number of different perspectives.
Links to earliest Christian Churches

Firstly it can be regarded as significant because of its ties with the earliest Christian communities and indeed with Jesus' life and ministry itself. Secondly,
it can be regarded as significant for the theological reflection that if offers to both the individual and the community. Thirdly, it has enormous significance in
the saving action of God and the formation of a Christian community. Finally, it has all the significance of an authentic rite of passage for both the
individual and the community.
Ancient Rite
Baptism is an ancient ritual. It has belonged in the life of the Christian community since its inception and indeed predates the Christian movement in the
context of Judaism. It seems apparent that some Jewish groups were practising baptism prior to the ministry of Jesus. Indeed, John the Baptist, who is
presented in the Gospels as a forerunner to the ministry of Jesus, had baptism as the hallmark of his own ministry (Mark 1:4).
Jesus' baptism
Jesus himself accepted the baptism of John (Mark 1:9) and gave instructions to his followers to baptise people in his name (Matthew 28:19). Obviously
the practice of baptism has great significance in the Christian tradition and indeed it relates to and expresses a number of important beliefs.
Links to early Christian Church
For the earliest Christians baptism was a profoundly significant event and for Christians today, the possibility of sharing in an event of such ancient
significance is rich and rewarding. It is significant for the individual because they walk the same path and share the same rite that has been practiced
among Christians since the earliest days of the Church. It is also important for the Christian community as a whole because in celebrating each rite of
baptism they are perpetuating the ancient tradition and honouring the intention of Jesus and the early disciples.
Theological reflection
The rite of baptism has great possibilities for theological reflection. There are images of death and new life which call to mind the death and resurrection of
Jesus. There are also images of creation and renewal which convey an understanding about the great saving actions of the God of Israel. Further aspects
of the rite of baptism allow reflection on the struggle between good and evil in the images of light and darkness. Other images call for reflection on the idea
of repentance and forgiveness as well as cleansing and renewal. Indeed it is difficult to find significant aspects of Christian theology which are not
captured in the tradition, the symbols and the ritual actions associated with the practice of baptism.
Preparation for Baptism
The richness of this reflection is very significant for the individual. Whether it be for the candidate preparing for their own baptism or a parent or God parent
preparing for a child's baptism, there are abundant opportunities for prayerful reflection and spiritual development in the rite of baptism. Many Churches
invite candidates to prepare for baptism or to prepare for their role as parents or God parents through engaging in a preparation course which helps them
make connections between theological themes and their own experience.
Reflection and renewal
For the community, the theological richness provides a source of constant reflection and renewal. Many Christian communities invite congregations to
renew their own baptismal promises on the occasion of baptisms in the local Church community. These occasions challenge the members of the
community to constantly reflect on their vocation as Christians and the significance of their own baptism. The involvement of the community in assisting
candidates prepare for their baptism and praying for those involved is yet another dimension of the significance for the community.
Theological dimension
Further significance of the practice of baptism can be seen in the theological dimension of its place in the economy of salvation. The early Church
community as depicted in the Acts of the Apostles regarded baptism as a necessary element of salvation (Acts 2:38). It was a sign of their repentance,
proclaimed their forgiveness from sin and allowed them to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The beliefs that baptism is integral to salvation, that it signifies
repentance and forgiveness of sin and that it allows for the coming of the Spirit are important beliefs of the Christian faith that are expressed in the practice
of baptism.
Gift of the Holy Spirit
This is significant for the individual who, through their baptism, receives the assurance that they have received the forgiveness of the sins and the gift of
the Holy Spirit. Through baptism they are now a member of the body of Christ. The rite of baptism is a profound marker in the life of the community. It
marks both their growth through the new member of the community and also is witness to their mission to bring the gospel to others.
Rite of passage
Baptism is also an authentic rite of passage. It marks the transition of the individual from one stage or state in life onto the next. In terms of the Christian
community it marks the transition of a person from being outside of this community to becoming a fully initiated.
Thus for the individual there is significance in the sense of belonging experienced, the sharing with a community of common mind and faith. For the
community, the process of supporting a person through their preparation and welcoming them into the community through baptism is also highly significant.
The community is invigorated when it is engaged in the task of the gospel and enriched by the presence of a new member of the community.