Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church

Baptism

Baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, through which grace we become partakers of his righteousness and heirs of life eternal. Those receiving the Sacrament are thereby marked as Christian disciples, and initiated into the fellowship of Christ’s holy Church.

Baptism initiates a covenant of relationship between God and the baptized person and between the church and the person. When you are baptized or affirm your baptism, the congregation enacts God's grace toward you and welcomes you into the community of faith. As a response to God's gracious initiative, you will be asked to pledge your loyalty to the life and ministries of The United Methodist Church and to promise to uphold the local church with your prayers, presence, gifts and service. As a baptized Christian, you will be part of the universal church and part of a particular community of Christians where you are known and watched over in love.

Baptism is a sacrament. In a sacrament, God uses common elements — in this case, water — as means or vehicles of divine grace. Baptism is administered by the church as the Body of Christ. It is the act of God through the grace of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Why Baptize Babies?
From the earliest times, children and infants were baptized and included in the church. As scriptural authority for this ancient tradition, some scholars cite Jesus’ words, “Let the little children come to me…for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14). However, a more consistent argument is that baptism, as a means of grace, signifies God’s initiative in the process of salvation. John Wesley preached “prevenient grace,” the grace that works in our lives before we are aware of it, bringing us to faith. The baptism of children and their inclusion in the church before they can respond with their own confirmation of faith is a vivid and compelling witness to prevenient grace.

Baptism Is Forever
Because baptism is a sacrament of God’s grace and a covenant that God has initiated, it should not be repeated. However, God’s continuing and patient forgiveness, and God's prevenient grace will prompt us to renew the commitment first made at our baptism. At such a time, instead of re-baptism, The United Methodist Church offers the ritual for the re-affirmation of baptismal vows, which implies that while God remains faithful to God’s half of the covenant, we are not always faithful to our promises. Our half of the covenant is to confess Christ as our Savior, trust in his grace, serve him as Lord in the church, and carry out his mission against evil, injustice, and oppression.

Question:  Does The United Methodist Church accept the baptism of other denominations?

Answer:  Yes, The United Methodist Church recognizes the baptism of other Christian denominations. We do not re-baptize those who have already received Christian baptism in any form. The Book of Discipline says, "A member in good standing in any Christian denomination who has been baptized and who desires to unite with The United Methodist Church may be received as either a baptized or a professing member by a proper certificate of transfer from that person's former church, or by a declaration of Christian faith, and upon affirming willingness to be loyal to The United Methodist Church…It is recommended that instruction in the faith, work, and polity of the Church be provided for all such persons.

Scheduling a Baptism

We baptize at all three services and try to limit only one baptism or one family per service. Private baptisms can be scheduled for Sundays or other days. Please contact Roger Freeman, 770-271-8855 ext 101, to discuss the desired date and time for the baptism. You will be asked to fill out a form, one for each person being baptized, so we can have the necessary information for the bulletin, for the Baptism Certificate and for our records. In order to meet the bulletin printing deadline, we ask for the infromation to be in the church office at least two weeks in advance.