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Baptsim is one of two sacraments in our church, the other being Communion. A sacrament may be understood as a physical way of experiencing something spiritual -- a way in which we touch, taste, feel, experience, and know the grace of God. In the water of Baptism or in the bread and juice of Communion, we experience a spiritual reality--we receive God's love and saving power into our lives.

UNITED METHODIST BELIEFS ABOUT BAPTISM

WHAT BAPTISM IS NOT--

We do not believe that Baptism for children is any kind of magical zap from heaven. Baptism does not make a person an instant Christian for life. Every individual must at some time come to personally choose to accept salvation through Christ. This is why we have the opportunity of Confirmation for youth; Confirmation is when a person decides to respond to the love of God by confirming, or saying "yes" to, his or her Baptism.

Baptism for children is not "fire insurance". We thoroughly reject the notion that an unbaptized child who dies will end up in "limbo" or even hell. God is not so limited as to reject a young child simply because nobody managed to get there with the water.

WHAT BAPTISM IS --

BAPTISM IS A DECLARATION OF GOD'S GRACE. In Baptism for children or adults, we are declaring God's grace--God's freely given love--by which God accepts us even when we are not worthy, and forgives us even when we have not earned it. Thus Baptism proclaims first and foremost God's action--as God reaches out to us in saving love and cleansing forgiveness. This is why we can baptize children; in infant Baptism, we are recognizing that God takes the initiative in salvation. God begins to work in the life of a child even before the child understands anything of God, just as a parent works lovingly in the life of a child, even when the child understands nothing of what the parent is doing.

BAPTISM IS A COMMITMENT. In adult Baptism, the person being baptized makes a commitment of his or her life to God. In Baptism for children, the parents make a commitment on behalf of the child, promising to raise their child in the Christian faith and in the church, until that time when the child can make his or her own personal commitment to God. The whole congregation also makes a commitment to help the baptized person grow in Christian life.

BAPTISM IS A COVENANT. A covenant is a mutual commitment -- in the case of the Baptismal covenant a mutual commitment between God and us. In any covenant, such as a marriage covenant, both parties must be faithful to the covenant in order for the promises of the covenant to be effective. God is always faithful on God's side of the covenant. On our side of the covenant, we must live out our commitment to God in order for God's promises to take hold in our lives. This is why, when parents bring children for baptism, it is extremely important that they actually intend to continue to bring their children to church, so that the children can indeed grow in the knowledge and grace of God.

BAPTISM IS INITIATION INTO THE CHURCH. Whether for adults or for children, Baptism is initiation into the fellowship of the church. Unbaptized adults must therefore be baptized before being received into the membership of the church. Children who are baptized are henceforth recognized as "preparatory members" of the church, until they are confirmed and become "full members". By baptizing children, we recognize that they have a place right now in God's family.

METHODS OF BAPTISM--

The United Methodist Church recognizes as valid any of the three ancient methods of baptizing. These methods, as well as the particular aspect of the meaning of Baptism that their symbolism evokes, are as follows:

a. Sprinkling-- Drops of water are placed on the head. This symbolism reminds us especially of the cleansing action of God's forgiveness.

b. Pouring-- A stream of water is poured over the head. This symbolism reminds us especially of the idea that God is "pouring" the Holy Spirit into the life of the person.

c. Immersion-- The person is dunked entirely under water. This symbolism reminds us of how our old selves are "buried" and how we "rise" to new life in Christ.

It is important to recognize that while each of these methods points to a different aspect of the meaning of Baptism, the sacrament of Baptism, by whatever method, means all of these things. Baptism is full and complete Baptism no matter which method is chosen. United Methodists, therefore, recognize any form of Christian baptism in any church as valid. A person who has been baptized in another denomination does not need to be rebaptized in order to come into the United Methodist Church.

Sprinkling is the particular method of baptism used in our church; it is used for baptism at any age.

Because baptism is initiation into the church, and involves a commitment of support by the whole congregation, baptism always takes place during a regular Sunday morning service of worship (at either the 8:30 or 10:30 hour).

PARENTS CONSIDERING BAPTISM FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Based on all that is discussed above, it would obviously be an empty act for parents to bring a child for baptism and then never be involved in a church again. Parents bringing a child for baptism are making a profound commitment before God, and so it is crucial that the parents also are committed to a local church.

If you do not have a church home and are thinking about baptism for your child we invite you to visit us in worship and see if this is the church where you would like to raise your child in Christian faith. You may wish to meet with our pastor or with our Director of Christian Education to talk further about our young people's ministry. You will need to either be a member of the church or have a commitment to become a member of the church in order to bring a child for baptism.

If you are a member of the church and desire baptism for your child you are encouraged to contact our secretary, Donna Harper, or our senior pastor, Dr. Palmer, to arrange for a baptism date. We schedule multiple baptisms during the course of the year.

CONFIRMATION--

While Baptism declares God's grace, each person needs to come to personally accept God's gift of love. One way in which young people may do this is through the Confirmation program. Confirmation is the act of "confirming" or "saying yes" to one's Baptism and to God's gift of salvation.

At the United Methodist Church of Kent, we have a year-long Confirmation program for seventh graders, which includes classes, field trips, home Bible study, and service projects. Through the Confirmation program, which is taught by our youth director and pastor, young people are led to consider what it means to be a Christian and to reflect on their own relationship with God. On Confirmation Sunday, which takes place in May, confirmands make a profession of their own faith in Christ, are "confirmed" into Christian discipleship, and are received as full members of the church.

Young people in Confirmation who have not previously been baptized receive baptism as they are confirmed on Confirmation Sunday.