Does baptism mean that I am saved?
No, salvation is a lifelong process during which we must continue to respond to God's grace. Baptism offers the promise that the Holy Spirit will always be working in our lives, but salvation requires our acceptance of that grace, trust in Christ, and ongoing growth in holiness as long as we live.
Do I have to be baptized in order to be saved?
No, but baptism is a gift of God's grace to be received as part of the journey of salvation. To refuse to accept baptism is to reject one of the means of grace that God offers us.
Does baptism make me a member of the church?
Yes, baptism is the act of initiation and incorporation into the universal church of Jesus Christ, The United Methodist Church, and the local congregation, as our ritual makes very clear.
Is sprinkling the only that United Methodists baptize?
No, our church has always offered to people being baptized and to the parents of infants the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.
May I be baptized again?
No, baptism is an act of God, and God does it right the first time. Our side of the covenant relationship with God will need recommitment and reaffirmation, but God always remains faithful to the divine side.
Infant Baptism
What's the difference between infant baptism and believer's baptism?
In infant baptism, God claims the child with divine grace. Clearly the child can do nothing to save himself or herself, but is totally dependent on God's grace, as we all are — whatever our age. In believer's baptism, the person being baptized is publicly professing her or his own decision to accept Christ. Believer's baptism is an ordinance, not a sacrament. United Methodists baptize people of all ages who have not previously received the sacrament. Even when the people being baptized are believing adults and are ready to profess their faith, our emphasis is upon the gracious action of God rather than upon the individual's decision.
Can I have my infant christened?
Christening is not a separate or different service. It is the same thing as baptism
May we have our baby dedicated instead of baptized?
No. The theological understandings of the two services are very different. Dedication is a human act — something we pledge or give to God. Baptism is a divine act, a pledge and gift God gives to us. Baptism includes vows of dedication, but chiefly it celebrates what God is doing and will do.
Isn't it better to wait until children can decide for themselves whether or not to be baptized?
No. We no more wait for our children to decide about being in the family of God than we wait for them to decide if they would like to be a part of our human family. As parents, we make many decisions — in matters of health, safety, education, for example — for our children. Of course, they may later reject what we have done for them. But, this possibility does not relieve us of the responsibility to do all that we can for them spiritually, as we do in other aspects of their lives.
Confirmation
At what age are children confirmed?
Because the middle school years (6th-8th grades) are when young people begin to move from concrete thinking to abstract thinking, that is when most people begin to make lifelong faith decisions. However, not everyone is ready for such a decision at this time in life and a few are ready even before 6th grade. Also, during these middle school years youth are seeking a sense of belonging. Belonging to the community of faith is an appropriate response to that developmental task.
Do adults take confirmation classes?
In some churches, adults prepare for baptism and membership in small group settings, such as an orientation or new member class. These adult classes may focus on the history and beliefs of The United Methodist Church and the work of that local congregation.
Can you be confirmed twice?
If a person has been confirmed, then they are members of the church and have made their profession of faith. Certainly a pastor and church can urge that anyone coming to the local church to become a member participates in an orientation to the new local church. However, when anyone becomes a professing member of a local church, he or she is a professing member of The United Methodist Church and of the universal church of Jesus Christ. No further ritual action is required, except for reception in the local church pledging to support it with their prayers, presence, gifts and service.
I do not think it is appropriate to "require" being "confirmed again" as that calls into question the confirmation that has already taken place. Pastors and churches rightly invite and encourage reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant and profession of faith. It cannot and should not be required. Pastors and local churches are part of a connectional church--what happened in one United Methodist church happened in all of the United Methodist churches.