Credobaptism in the UMC

[SQLservant]

Hey all, I've just got a question here.

First, situation. The special lady in my life and I are looking for a church home. She comes from a more evangelical background and as such believes credobaptism to be preferable to infant baptism. As many other churches in the area teach things that one or both of us either object to or would feel uncomfortable with, the United Methodist Church seems like the best option, though the spiritual hollowness seen in most of the congregations we have attended so far also poses a problem.

Anyway, I know what umc.org says, but I would like to ask anyway, is it acceptable in the United Methodist tradition to leave baptism for your children until they choose it for themselves? What are other users' experiences on this?

 

[Mr Dave]

It should be perfectly fine. A UMC member will have to confirm this, but generally in Methodism, Infant Baptism is practiced, but for those who would rather their children weren't baptised as infants but as adults when they chose to, the option of infant dedication (service for the thanksgiving of a child) should be available.

I'm a cradle Methodist, and was dedicated as a baby, and baptised on my wishes in consultation with my minister (who happened to be my dad) when I was 18.

 

[Qyöt27]

To my knowledge, the UMC only baptizes (with the general effect of an older child's believer's baptism completed in Confirmation, if the congregation in question does Confirmation), and officially refuses to re-baptize people if they already have been*, since the UMC recognizes the validity of baptisms done in other churches. Nazarenes have been mentioned as doing dedications, though.

*I'm still not sure if this applies if the original baptism was non-Trinitarian; I want to say that in that case they do get a Trinitarian baptism, but someone else will have to confirm.

However, and I think this may be the more important part, I just can't imagine a UMC congregation forcing anyone to baptize their infant or child. They just may not quite understand the reasoning behind why a parent would not do so, given the Methodist view of baptism as a sacrament. On the other hand, enough of them may have been raised in more Baptist-type churches and could be fully aware and able to sympathize, even if they don't agree on the why.

 

[Lee52]

Hey all, I've just got a question here.

First, situation. The special lady in my life and I are looking for a church home. She comes from a more evangelical background and as such believes credobaptism to be preferable to infant baptism. As many other churches in the area teach things that one or both of us either object to or would feel uncomfortable with, the United Methodist Church seems like the best option, though the spiritual hollowness seen in most of the congregations we have attended so far also poses a problem.

Anyway, I know what umc.org says, but I would like to ask anyway, is it acceptable in the United Methodist tradition to leave baptism for your children until they choose it for themselves? What are other users' experiences on this?

Not an attempt to guide you away from UMC here, just further information: Look at the congregations represented at the top of the main Wesley Parish page in the "Who We Are, What We Believe" section. http://www.christianforums.com/t6404471/

There are several congregations represented there that may be more in line with your and your wife's evangelical liking. Since you are thinking UMC, if the congregations you have attended are not exactly meeting your worship needs, perhaps a Free Methodist Church would. If not Free Methodist, then perhaps Nazarene, and so on.

At some point, a congregation will meet your worship preference needs, or, perhaps, you are seeking something that is not ever going to meet your worship needs. If you find yourself in that position, perhaps some serious self-evaluation would be in order.

Though I do not claim membership now, at different times in my life I have worshipped in UMC cogregations. My experience with the UMC is as with most denominations; you can find some congregations on fire for the LORD, you can find some spiritually dead congregations, you can find congregations at any level in between. I am specifically NOT going to state my current affiliation in order to make sure that no proselytizing can be inferred.

I hope you and your wife find the congregation that GOD wants you in.
Be blessed,
Lee52

 

[Redheadedstepchild]

I think it depends on the pastor. I was brought up in a Methodist church. My mom deliberately postponed my baptism (but then made me go through confirmation, at which point I was baptized, but that's another story). In any case apparently for her postponing was not an issue.
After high school I stopped going to church until I had children of my own. I found myself back in a UMC, and I will have to say there was a fair amount of pressure to have my children baptized right away, to the point that the pastor did not want to wait long enough for a planned visit from my grandmother. His point was if baptism is viewed as a measure of grace, why should I delay.
So, talk to the pastor. Or, as mentioned above, think about exploring some of the other "Wesleyan" denominations until you find one that fits.

 

[VolRaider]

Since we don't believe that baptism saves you, I think a UM church would allow to make such a decision, but I am not 100 percent sure. I personally do not know any lifetime UMs who were dedicated later in life.
I do know the Nazarenes and Wesleyan churches affirm in their official statements on baptism that it is a parental choice.

I favor infant baptism - My personal view is that baptism is a means of grace and knowledge is not necessary to receive such a gift. After all, we're all still learning, aren't we?

The only time we allow re-baptism is if the first is non-Trinitarian (JWs, Mormons, etc.). We accept even Catholic and Orthodox baptisms. The Nazarene and Wesleyan churches do the same.

 

[Lovely Lane]

take your pick SQL, it's up to the parent not the minister. And if the child is of age to decide for themselves that's fine too. And if the minister say's it is up to him/her, then pick a different church. The worst thing to do is have some one tell you when and where to be baptized, that's the parents job. Think about it, you and wife are the ones in charge of raising and nourishing your child.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Maybe I'm picky, but I don't really feel like anyone has answered the question you actually asked:

is it acceptable in the United Methodist tradition to leave baptism for your children until they choose it for themselves?

Yes, it is acceptable.

As others have said, it may not be typical or normal or customary. But it most certainly is acceptable.

Some pastors might approach you to ask you if you had considered having your child baptized; I would. Some might even try to convince you that though you've considered it and arrived at a different decision that you should reconsider it and do it any way; I would not. But none would say that it is not acceptable to wait and let the child make up his or her own mind at a later time.

BTW, the choir director in my congregation has an 16-month old who has never been baptized. I've mentioned the idea to her exactly one time. I know she has considered it, but they haven't moved forward with it. Right now it is their decision as the child's parents, and I respect their choice which ever way they choose.