Baptisms

How can a child get baptised in a Methodist church?

According to the Methodist Worship Book, baptism marks entry into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, of which the Methodist Church is part. The Methodist Church, like most denominations of the Christian Church, administers the sacrament to both adults and young children.

Parents wishing to have their children baptised should approach their local Methodist minister who will meet them and explain what’s involved. This may involve, in some cases, parents being willing to undertake a number of instruction sessions.

When will the baptism take place?

Unless there are exceptional circumstances the baptism will take place during a normal Sunday Service.  The service includes a welcome into the worshipping community. The service will usually be taken by a Minister so plenty of notice should be given to arrange a date, as he or she will not be at the church every week, and not all Sundays will be suitable.

How much does it cost?

Our Christian life and faith is a free gift to us from God. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection was a free gift.  So, therefore, is baptism. There is no charge.

Does a baptised Methodist need to be confirmed after baptism?

In the Methodist Church baptism as an infant would normally be followed by confirmation and reception into membership at the point where the person wishes to take on the commitment and responsibility of Christian discipleship for themselves and to play a full part in the life of the Church. Normally this would involve someone being in their mid-teens or older. There is no upper age limit!

This is best summed up in the Methodist Worship Book: “In Confirmation, those who have been baptized declare their faith in Christ and are strengthened by the Holy Spirit for continuing discipleship.  Confirmation reminds us that we are baptized and that God continues to be at work in our lives: we respond by affirming that we belong to Christ and to the whole People of God. At a Service of Confirmation, baptised Christians are also received into membership of the Methodist Church and take their place as such in a local congregation.”

How do the different denominations view baptism?

There is one baptism, which is recognized by all the mainstream Churches that baptize infants, including the Methodist Church and the Church of England.