A Study Of Baptism In Three Conversations
The Christian Century hosted a series for a while with the title “How my mind has changed?” They’d ask theologians with long careers in the field how their perspective or thoughts had changed over the years.
About a decade ago I wrote a book on baptism, a resource for pastors to use as they prepare baptismal candidates. I’m still proud of that work, and recommend it. So in one way a lot of the perspectives on baptism presented there I still align with. But when I wrote the book, the majority of the people preparing for baptism were infants and children, and the primary context for my education about baptism was for new parents.
On the other hand, during the middle of the last decade our congregation adopted a Lutheran and ecumenical process of faith formation called in some places the “catechumenate.” Some traditions like Roman Catholics call it Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults. Our process is like those on some levels, but is also (because of the nature of how we think about faith formation) more free-form and mutual, with less emphasis on transmitting specific doctrinal content and encouraging adherence to it.
As we have averaged fifty or more new members per year for the last six or seven years (in a Lutheran church where the majority of those coming to us from Southern Baptist, evangelical, Church of Christ, etc. and/or no religious tradition at all), you can imagine those coming to us arrive with some surprising (and wonderful) questions.
So how has my mind changed? Well, I’ve come to realize adults have some of the same questions about baptism I discussed in the book (how is baptism connected to church membership? What does baptism “signify”? Do you baptize more than once?), but also the inquirers life-history and social location makes their questions even more interesting, and honestly sometimes I get asked things about baptism I never even anticipated.
And that’s amazing and lovely.
So below, here are three brief conversations, all shared with permission, that give you a sense of the new ways I have been invited to think about baptism. I share these in the hopes that those reading this might be encouraged to ask their own questions about baptism, and also feel encouraged to connect to our process for baptismal preparation during the Lenten season and baptism at the Easter Vigil.
One way my mind has remained consistent from a decade ago to the present moment: I love baptism. I love this rite that extends God’s promises to people through liquid, refreshing, life-giving water. And I love that folks who might otherwise have felt quite distant from the possibility of baptism are those now free and encouraged to ask the questions.
So here they are. A sort of “study of baptism in three conversations.”
Inquirer #1: Howdy and good evening Reverend, I saw your post about becoming a member at GSLC. One of my goals for this year is to recommit myself to church. I was raised Oneness Pentecostal, went through a new atheist phase, then back to Pentecostal church, then unitarian, then liberation theology yet I don't have a formal church fellowship at the moment. I feel called to something lacking in my life and that's routine church attendance and affiliation with a church. So I had a couple questions: what is a resource to consult on affiliating with GSLC?
And the other one is on rites: since I was raised Oneness Pentecostal I was baptized but they have a distinct tradition of baptizing in the name of Jesus instead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Would I need to be re-baptized to take part in communion and join GSLC? This is something I would be willing to do if need be.
Thank you for your time Reverend, peace and blessings
My response: This is a lovely inquiry. What a rich trajectory you’ve been on. Let’s talk about the re-baptism part so you are informed. We tend to focus on the unity of baptism, but it does sound like the baptismal rite you participated in is different from ours in some ways. I think a central concern here is what would be meaningful to you! I’m sending you an invite to the FB group for Lent so we can talk about this and plan together with other baptismal candidates.
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Inquirer #2: Hi! I'm curious, what does baptism look like in the Lutheran church? Like, do y'all sprinkle or dunk? Are there requirements before one can be baptized?
I was baptized (sprinkled) United Methodist when I was 12, and dunked (Southern Baptist, but we won't claim that one, lol) at 18. I'm not trying to rush into it immediately, but at some point I do think it would be nice to be baptized as me, instead of my former identity, so to speak.
PC: Ok, this is the long answer to this question: we normally practice one baptism, so if you have been previously baptized in another tradition, then at the Easter Vigil we do a service that includes Affirmation of Baptism for anyone connecting to our church who is already baptized.
However, I also recognize and have learned from people that sometimes their previous baptism was a kind of burden to them in some way or another, and so I leave it up to the individual how they would like to handle it. I let everyone be informed and make the choice. So if you desire to be baptized, then during Lent we can do the baptismal preparation and you can be baptized.
Additionally, we have done name-change and other blessings for those who have transitioned, although I can see in your situation that's already a done deal and so perhaps it's the baptism that would be the most meaningful to you.
Inquirer: I do favor (re)baptism. I think it would be extremely affirming/validating to be baptized "as myself", if that makes sense. Scripturally, I relate a lot to the Simon->Peter/Saul->Paul transformative experience. A name change blessing does make a lot of sense and I'm really glad that GSLC does that, but for me, I do lean heavily into the transformative rebirth affirmation associated with baptism.
Also, I just think it's a radical statement for a trans person to be able to be baptized as themselves. It symbolizes something that conservative Christianity denies to us, if that makes sense.
I'm still muddling through all the thoughts/feelings involved.
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Inquirer #3: Is there a version of baptism that isn't an induction into religion? If so, is that a thing you do?
PC: That's an interesting question. From a faith perspective, baptism isn't really induction into a religion and is more a clear way that God speaks a promise to us. But I probably need to hear more what you mean to answer the question.
Inquirer: That's my understanding of baptism, too, but finding a place where that feels accessible has been a challenge. I don't know stuff about Lent and am pretty uncomfortable with Easter observances. I don't consider myself Christian, and I don't really want to. But I know God, and we've both been working real hard at repairing our relationship these past few years.
When I was 6, I was baptized in a Southern Baptist church. My grandfather -- the one who now lives with me and says I'm still not an adult at 33-- performed the ritual. The church held to Billy Graham's opinion that God required reciting his copyrighted Sinner's Prayer to be "saved" and enter Heaven. I asked to get to do this when I was 3 because I was afraid of dying and going to Hell, but was told I wasn't old enough until I finally pestered my mom and the preacher into letting me have access to the magic words to recite at age 6. It was never about my love for God at that point, but about my fear of the horror stories the preacher had filled my head with as a child. I remember feeling like a monster was in that baptismal grabbing me when grandpa lowered me under the water, and when I came up there was a sea of white faces applauding me for my performance of Christianity Or Something Like It. Ironically enough, that path led me precisely to Hell, and I don't ever want to go back there again.
I feel like maybe washing off that old baptism and the accumulated stains of years since, with cleaner water and a healthier understanding of purpose, may be a worthwhile endeavor?
PC: Let’s talk!
I’d conclude here recognizing that in some ways, although each of these inquirers has serious theological questions about baptism they’ve written out eloquently as brief testimonials, my answer to the question of baptism is also, in a certain sense, more of a relationship than an essay or catechism. Because in some instances the harm that came about connected to baptism came about in the context of relationships, it seems to me the right use of the “rite” of baptism then also by necessity includes an ongoing relationship and dialogue.
That’s why I love the catechumenate so much. It emphasizes the relational side of baptismal preparation.
That was a long read, kudos to all who made it to the end. We’d love to have any inquirers join us for the Lenten process. Send me a note!