CORNISH-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: Private Baptism = Anywhere, without congregation/witness
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 19:21:04 EDT

Baptism is a PUBLIC sacrament of the community of faith. Private baptism does
not have support in the contemporary church or in basic sacramental theology
-- regardless of the denomination. Private baptism means it was done without
the congregation there to witness, to affirm, and to support. (In baptism,
the community of faith takes some vows, too, not just the candidate or the
parents)

Private baptisms, however, are done on rare occasions -- at the church, in the
home, at the hospital, on the battlefield, prior to death, etc. Even then,
past or present, Baptism should have been witnessed by someone: sponsors,
God-parents, representatives of the congregation, etc.

Private baptism was not to be used for "convenience" -- only out of necessity.

Jerry Paull
Christ Church
Akron, Ohio, USA

This thread:

• Re: Private Baptism = Anywhere, without congregation/witness by <>

  • Re: Private Baptism = Anywhere, without congregation/witness by "Ken Nelson" <>