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Post by stilger on Sept 28, 2009 20:48:29 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
Could someone explain to me how baptism works and what‘s involved? I have never set foot inside a church of any kind before I was married ten years ago, casually attended my wife’s church (she is Mormon), attended a Baptist church a few times with a friend, but before 2 months ago had never seen an Episcopalian service (meaning the whole system of ceremony is very alien to me).
The service of the Episcopal church I’ve started attending is the first that has every “felt” right to me and I am thinking about joining. I have never been baptized nor even seen one conducted. My understanding of a Mormon baptism is that they fully emerge you in a tub of water in a fairly small ceremony. But I’m interested to understand how it works for Episcopalians, and especially for adults.
Also, my wife grew up in England and attended Catholic/Anglican services before her family converted to LDS, she is very comfortable at these services (I am often very lost, not used to the cadence, and need her help), but she was baptized LDS. I also have a 10 year old son baptized LDS. Would those baptisms be considered valid or would they need to be redone?
Thank you for you patience and help!
Bill
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srigdon
Eucharistic Assistant
Posts: 214
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Post by srigdon on Sept 30, 2009 2:48:13 GMT -5
Bill,
The Episcopal Church, like most churches, has an authorized person (priest, usually) spill water on the person while saying that they are baptizing the person in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (as Jesus says in Mt 28: 19). This is done after some training in the responsibilities of being Christian, and the person has to make a public oral commitment to the faith before hand. You can read all the exact words required in the church Book of Common Prayer.
Differences: (1) the amount of water involved. Mormons and Baptists do full immerson of the person while the words are said, while some other churches (including Episcopal and Catholic) allow the baptist to spill water on the person's head. The Catholic and Episcopal churches allow (2) baptism of infants, where Mormons and (IIRC) Baptist require the person to have attained some minimum age. With infant baptism, the pre-baptism process will involve an interview of the parents/sponsors beforehand, and they make promises at baptism that the child will be brought up in the Christian life. Getting back to the amount of water involved, adults have some choice in the amount of water - if they want immersion, they can have it.
Most Episcopal churches, depending somewhat on local opinion, will recognize Mormon baptisms, although this is controversial in places. In fact, the Episcopal bishop of Utah, Carolyn Tanner Irish, was baptized Mormon and has never been rebaptized Episcopalian. It might depend on the local pastor or bishop. Our national church has no official policy on the matter that I know of.
In the Episcopal Church, because baptized children aren't always old enough to know what's going on, baptism doesn't entitle you to 'full' membership in the church; that requires 'confirmation,' which is a later ceremony done by someone old enough to know what they're doing which 'confirms' the baptism. Among other things, you can't be a priest or serve on church governing boards until you've been confirmed. So, in a way, confirmation is part of the baptism process, although it can happen much later. (I might add that Ms. Irish, I'm sure, has been confirmed.)
Hope this helps. And welcome...
Sidney
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Post by stilger on Oct 22, 2009 20:28:37 GMT -5
Thank you for the reply!
I have been talking to my local Parish about babtism and am now in the process.
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