baptism ˙ᵕ˙

As an Initiation Rite and Sacrament

• Most significant initiation rite

  • Signifies initiation to the beliefs and practices of the Christian community

  • Becoming a member of the Christian church

  • Becoming a child of God

• Necessary for salvation

  • Cleansing of original sin

  • It is the putting on of Christ

• It is an Ordinance

  • Jesus has required/ordered everyone to do it

• It is conferred once in life

  • age depends on denomination

Significance to individual + community

• Individual

  • Ties with earliest Christian communities: they walk the same path as all the Christians before them

  • This initiation implies a commitment to the teachings and lifestyle of Christianity

  • Individuals continue to learn about and practice their faith

  • Parents commit to raise the child in the church

  • The individual shares in the life and ministry of Christ

  • Integral to salvation

  • Allows repentance + forgiveness

  • Gift of the Holy Spirit

• Community

  • Supporting a person through their preparation and welcoming into the Church deepens one’s faith and commitment to the church

  • They become witness to the mission to bring the Gospel to others

  • In celebrating each baptism, they are perpetuating the ancient tradition and honouring the intention of Jesus + early disciples.

Denominational Differences

• Pouring of the water (Affusion)

  • Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian

• Credobaptism (believer baptism)

  • The focus on candidates choosing and accepting to be a part of the Christian CHurch

  • Most churches who do this do not accept the validity of a pedobaptism and require a second baptism of converts

    • Protestant, Baptists, Churches of Christ, Seventh day Adventists

• PedoBaptism

  • Child is baptised

  • Parents + god parents agree to raise the child in the Christian faith

  • Make commitments on behalf of the child

    • Catholic, Anglican, most orthodox

• Churches who don't baptise

  • Only repentance and faith are required for these adherents

  • Claim it is not necessary for salvation

    • Salvation army and quakers

• Celebrant

  • Priest or deacon

    • Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican

  • Parish Priest

    • Orthodox

Core Elements: How its done

• Done by immersing infants or mature candidates into water

• Profession of Faith

• Annointing with Oil

• Trinitarian Formula: Matthew 28:19

  • The Trinitarian Formula is chanted over the candidate

  • Symbol of following Jesus’ orders make disciples of all nations

  • Unifying statement of validity of baptism across denominations

  • If a baptism is completed without this formula, it is not valid

Catholic Process

• Rite outlines

1. Begins with greeting + welcoming from celebrant

2. Parents + godparents confirm their wish for baptism

3. Liturgy of the word: bible passages + homily

4. Follows is the rite of exorcism and anointing with oil

5. Water is blessed in the font

6. Profession of faith including Renunciation of sin

7. Pouring of water over the head

8. Child is clothed in white

9. Parents and godparents receive baptismal candle

10. Following is the ancient prayer of Ephphatha.

    1. The priest prays the eyes and ears open to receive the word of God

    2. Follows is the our father then final blessing

Orthodox Process

• Also includes chrismation with Chrism oil

•  immersion and triple immersion in the name of the holy trinity 

• Followed immediately by the anointing of the body with oils and proclamation of the seal of the Holy Spirit

• Followed by bread + wine eucharist

Anglican Process

• Most simple process

1. Gathering hymn, psalm or anthem

2. Priest or minister greets the congregation

3. The Collect of the Day is prayed followed by lessons from the scriptures

4. A sermon is preached

5. Presentation and examination

6. Baptismal covenant is performed

7. Prayers are offered for the candidate

8. Prayers of thanksgiving and blessing are prayed over the water

9. Prayers of consecration 

10. Water

11. Lord’s prayer + concluding prayer

History

• Predates the ministry of Jesus

• John the Baptist

  • Had baptism as the hallmark of his own ministry

• Jesus accepted john’s baptism

• Jesus ordered his disciples to baptise others

  • Trinitarian formula

The process

Preparatory rituals

• Instructions from the priest

  • Parents choose the godparents

• Present the child to the congregation

• Greeting

  • Sing a hymn followed by celebrant greeting

• Commitment

  • Parents are reminded of the responsibility to educate the child on the Christian faith

  • Asked to commit

• Welcome by the celebrant to the child

Build up phase

• Scripture readings

  • Celebrant reads 1 or 2 passages

• Homily

  • Using it, the celebrant explains the significance of these readings

  • Leads congregation to a deeper understanding of baptism

• Prayers of intercession and the litany of Saints

  • Celebrant says prayers intercessory and thanksgiving in nature

• Prayers of exorcism

  • Cahtolic + Lutheran ask to free the child of original sin

• Anointing

  • Ask God to strengthen the child ny anointing with the oil of Catechumans

Transforming Rituals

• Blessing of the water

  • Celebrant recalls God’s plan

  • Blesses water

  • Prays holy spirit will cleanse sin

• Renunciation of Sin and Profession of faith

  • Asks if parents and godparents are ready to accept the responsibility of baptising the child

  • They renew their own promise of baptism

• Baptism

  • To the font

  • I baptise tin the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dunking each time

Rituals in the Wind-Down phase

• Anointing

  • Catholic + anglican

    • Anoints with oil of Chrism on the crown of the head

    • Freed child of sin, new birth, welcome to God’s family

• Clothing of the White Garment

  • Child is clothed in Christ

• Light baptismal candles

  • Symbolises the light of Christ

  • Reminds the family they have been entrusted to keep the light

• Prayers over the ears and mouth

  • Pray they will receive and proclaim faith

Exit Rituals

• Procession to the altar and the Lord’s prayer

  • Congregation all pray

• Blessing of the parents

• Final hymn

  • Conclude with a final blessing over the whole congregation

  • Followed by singing of a hymn

Symbols and beliefs

• Water

  • Essential to baptism

  • Links to cleansing

  • Links to holy spirit

  • Body of Christ

  • Image of the womb and discussion of rebirth

  • Mimics the water Christ was blessed in

• Anointing

  • Healing and strength

  • Ministry of jesus

• White Garment

  • Purity and cleansing of original sin

• Baptismal Candle

  • Light of the world

  • Light of Christ → link to death + resurrection

    • Its an easter candle

  • Good and evil

  • Service to others