Baptisms

Baptism Policies & Planning

What does the church teach about baptism?
Through baptism, we accept God's grace through Jesus Christ and yield our life to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean to have a baby baptized in the United Methodist Church?
When an infant is baptized, the parents promise to raise the child in a Christian home and the Godparents and congregation recognize their responsibility into the Christian nurture of the child. Those vows are later reaffirmed by the child when he or she is confirmed as a church member.

How is baptism done in the Church?
Sprinkling is most commonly used, but pouring and immersion are also permissible. To sprinkle, the pastor's hand is dipped into water and placed on the head of the person being baptized. For immersion, the person being baptized is completely dipped beneath water. The third option is simply to pour water from a pitcher onto the head. We are more concerned with the symbolism and meaning of the event than the exact form.

If I have already been baptized in another Christian denomination, must I be rebaptized to be a United Methodist?
No. Your previous baptism will be accepted, and you will only take vows of church membership.

What if I want to be baptized a second time?
Tradition of the church frowns upon rebaptisms. Even when we drift from active involvement in the community of faith, we remain baptized. However, you may speak to the pastor about being part of meaningful service for remembering and renewing your earlier baptism vows.

What is the difference between baptism and confirmation?
One can be baptized any time after birth. Confirmation is the time when individuals confirm the vows that they took or that were taken by their parents at the time of baptism. Confirmation marks the time when a person self consciously joins as a member of the Church.

Do I have to be a member of Oswego Prairie Church to have my child baptized?
No, but there must be a clear demonstration and commitment to be a part of the church and decision to honor the vows which are made on behalf of the child, namely, that he or she will be raised in the church and the Christian faith.

Will you nurture this child in Christ's holy Church,
that by your teaching and example he or she may be guided to accept God's grace for themselves, to profess his or her faith openly, and to lead a Christian life?

Contact the Church Office at office@theprairie.org to schedule a baptism.

RENUNCIATION OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH

Since the earliest times, the vows of Christian baptism have consisted first of the renunciation of all that is evil and then the profession of faith and loyalty to Christ. Parents or other sponsors reaffirm these vows for themselves while taking the responsibilities of sponsorship. Candidates for confirmation profess for themselves the solemn vows that were made at their baptism. The pastor addresses parents or other sponsors and those candidates who can answer for themselves:

On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you:
Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?

I do.

Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?

I do.

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?

I do.

The pastor addresses parents or other sponsors of candidates not able to answer for themselves:

Will you nurture these children (persons) in Christ's holy Church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God's grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life?

I will.

The pastor addresses candidates who can answer for themselves:

According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ's holy Church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world?

I will.

If those who have answered for themselves have sponsors, the pastor addresses the sponsors:

Will you who sponsor these candidates support and encourage them in their Christian life?

I will.

(Liturgy from the United Methodist Book of Worship)

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