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Who May Baptize?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by InTheLight, Apr 13, 2014.

  1. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Who is authorized to baptize people? Only male clergy? Any male person? May women baptize people?
     
  2. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    We believe anyone can baptize that is a Christian who meet the qualifications to accept the Lord's Supper. :)

    We are not sacerdotalists.
     
  3. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I do not believe it should be restricted to clergy...I had never actually thought about whether or not a woman should baptize (I'd be uncomfortable with the practice, but perhaps only because of tradition) - interesting question. Baptism concerns the one being baptized, not the one conducting the baptism.
     
  4. plain_n_simple

    plain_n_simple Active Member

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    Go out into all the world, baptizing them....Sons and Daughters of God make disciples and baptize.
     
  5. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I take the position that baptism is a church ordinance, not just a Christian ordinance. I consider baptism the door to the local church. Therefore, the church should decided whom it will baptize and allow through its door.

    By extension, the church may determine who will baptize on its behalf. Our traditions, of course, suggest that the pastor is the one duly authorized to perform baptisms. And by tradition, the baptizer should be ordained. I suggest that an independent, autonomous congregation may select any of its number to baptize, ordained or not.

    That, of course, would open the way for a woman to baptize. I'm like JonC, that makes me uncomfortable, mainly because of my own traditions and experience. Never seen it done before in the Baptist churches I'm familiar with.

    Now, another question. Should we require the one we select to perform baptism to be a member of our congregation? Could we get a preacher from another Baptist church to do it? Currently, we are between permanent pastors. Our interim pastor is not a member. Could we allow him to baptize for us?

    Bottom line, I think the local congregation can do pretty much what it wants to in this area.
     
  6. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Supposing a woman doesn't feel comfortable having a man (somewhat) caress her as he lowers her into and raises her out of the water?

    I don't see anything wrong with it.
     
  7. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    When I baptize there is no "caressing".
     
  8. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Are you doing it right? :laugh: (just kidding)

    I had never thought about someone being uncomfortable with a man baptizing a woman...actually, I never heard of it being an issue.
     
  9. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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    He just waterboards her, because, you know, it ain't torture, and he can find out if she really repented and is saved... fun for the whole family!

    :thumbsup:

     
  10. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Unbelievable. You may leave the thread now.
     
  11. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    But in this day and age - it could be an issue - esp if its a teenage girl - and her unsaved parents.......

    May be more :( and no longer a :laugh: matter.
     
  12. Zaac

    Zaac Well-Known Member

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    Have you ever heard of this being an issue? I've had some women who have been so afraid that I've felt like they were gonna tear my robe off as they try to crawl up on my shoulders:laugh: They were glad a man was baptizing them. But I don't think I've ever heard of anybody encountering a woman who didn't want a man to baptize her because he was a man. Interesting.


    I believe the reasoning about not allowing women to baptize is the same as to why they should pastor/preach over men.
     
    #12 Zaac, Apr 14, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 14, 2014
  13. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Would this reasoning apply if it were a woman baptizing another woman (or a child)?

    It would seem that if it is a concern with some women, it may also be a concern for some pastors. I have just never heard the concern expressed. I don't see how baptism would pose such an issue.
     
  14. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    I posted the question because there was a teenaged girl baptized by a woman at our church recently. I'd never seen that done before and was purely speculating as to why a woman was doing the baptizing. At our church if you want to be baptized you can request any of the pastors, elders, or staff to baptize you, however, the church has the final say on who baptizes you.
     
  15. Zaac

    Zaac Well-Known Member

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    Yall pardon my previous response. That should read I believe the reasoning about not allowing women to baptize is the same as to why they should NOT pastor/preach over men.


    If there are men available, then the men need to be doing this.

    If it's taking place before a congregation of men, women and children, YES it should apply. Baptizing before the church should be viewed in the like manner of standing before the church and proclaiming God's word. Baptism is a proclamation just as is a proclamation of the word.
     
  16. Zaac

    Zaac Well-Known Member

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    ITL, I believe Biblically the case can be made for any Christ following person to baptize as long as it is done in order. If there are men available to do it, it's out of order for the women to do it.
     
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