Baptism
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. MATTHEW 28:19
At Christ Church, we believe in the importance of baptism for infants, children, and adults. We encourage children to experience God’s grace from infancy but, if you or your kids have not yet been baptized, we invite you to do so at any age.
Did you know?
Pastor Bob brings water back from the River Jordan for inclusion in every Christ Church baptism!
We offer three methods of applying water in baptism:
- Affusion - Pouring a little water on the head at a font.
- Major Affusion - Pouring a pitcher of water over a head while sitting in a water tank.
- Immersion - The full body of an individual going underwater in a water tank.
If you were baptized as an infant and are yearning for a chance to celebrate as an adult, we invite you to consider an Affirmation of Baptism.
Explore more about baptism below.
Getting Started
- Complete the Baptism Teaching Series.
- Fill out a short Baptism Request form.
- Receive a phone call from our Baptism Liaison, Patty, to work out all the details.
- While waiting for the call:
- Select a prefered Baptism Sunday date and a backup date.
- Estimate the number of guests who will attend.
- Decide on water distribution method: Affusion, Major Affusion or Immersion.
- Have questions? Contact Patty: traditions@christchurchmequon.org.
Preparing for Baptism
Before you request baptism, please complete the Baptism Teaching Series below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question to reveal the answer.
Baptism is, indeed, a one-and-done deal, when God adopts you into his family and gives you his family name. However, that baptism is meant for everyday as we embrace our place in his family.
Unfortunately, sometimes our faith is not carefully-cultivated and faith in God fades along with our place in his family. Other times we get mad or run away. Some of us go so far as to openly reject the family name and forget God altogether, severing all ties and forsaking our baptismal rights.
But then, like a prodigal child, we begin to miss God, his family, and our place in his family and we feel his ever pervasive call to come home.
In any case, there is no need to “re-adopt” you because you never stopped being part of the family. But, it is time for you to take your place in the family once again, reestablish those ties, and rebuild your relationship with your Father. We missed you! Welcome home!
If this sounds like your story (and in order to keep nagging guilt or questions of belonging at bay), it can often be meaningful to affirm your place in God’s family. Yes, you really belong here, even after wandering astray. You are, indeed, part of this redemptive family and, for you, we invite you to consider an AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM. It looks and feels just like baptism, and it serves as a really firm reminder of your original adoption and your place in God’s family. It’s a powerful way to say you are glad to be home, and you are formally taking your place in God’s family!
» Is baptism for infants or adults? Does Christ Church use pouring or immersion?
Here at Christ Church, baptism is less about WHAT, WHEN, AND HOW (logistics) and more about WHO AND FOR WHOM…
As a multi-denominational church, we respect theological dissonance that sometimes results in different preferences - even in baptism. Christians have long-debated what baptism is and how it is properly done. At Christ Church we all agree on, and therefore stress, the God of baptism (who He is and what He is doing) and the way baptism brings faith into the life of the recipient and congregation. As such, we can accommodate more water or less water, baptize at any and every age, etc. We trust that, regardless of logistics, baptism will foster faith and faithfulness in Jesus.
We have three options for methods of applying water in baptism: AFFUSION (the pouring of a little water on the head of an individual at a font), MAJOR AFFUSION (sitting in a tank of water while a pitcher of water is poured over a person’s head), and IMMERSION (the full body of an individual going underwater in a water tank).
We are able to accommodate people’s method preferences because we believe what matters most is not the method, but that baptism is both water and God’s word.
» Is baptism private or public?
Faith is always personal, but never private. Since baptism is your adoption into God’s family, it always happens as a part of worship on Sunday mornings. That said, if you are nervous about public spaces, we recommend getting baptized at our 8am Chapel Service as there are fewer family members gathered there than in our other services.
» Do I HAVE to get my child baptized? Can they be dedicated?
We do not practice baby dedication, nor do we force parents to baptize infants. We respect and honor your preferences for your child. If you would like to wait to have your child baptized until they are of a specific age or experience, we will be ready, waiting, and excited! That said, you will hear a consistent, gentle invitation to consider baptism for your child as one of the crucial faithsteps in the life of a growing Christian. As a multi-denominational church, we seek to strike a balance of respecting a parent or guardian’s particular beliefs while also appreciating the practice of infant and adult baptism.
» What happens if I don’t do it or don’t want it?
We will love you regardless of whether you are baptized or not. And, God’s redemptive work can be a part of our lives with or without baptism. We will also be consistent in inviting you to embrace it and its wonderful place in the life of a Christian. We may be daring enough to ask, “Why wouldn’t you want it!? It's so wonderful!”
» What is “confirmation” and how does it relate to baptism?
Confirmation is a valuable and meaningful Faith Step in a young person’s faith journey. For those baptized as infants, confirmation creates the opportunity to publicly affirm your baptismal identity. It is a moment where you publicly appreciate and acknowledge your baptismal identity as a child of God. While your baptism was done as an infant (without your cognizant consent), this present act affirms what was given and done so long ago. It is, therefore, deeply tied to our understanding of baptism and is the continued outworking of our baptismal journey. Learn more about Confirmation at Christ Church at christchurchmequon.life/confirmation.
» What does the Bible say about baptism?
The Bible has many passages that refer to and explain baptism. However, pulling out individual chapters and verses doesn't allow us to see the full picture of baptism as it's presented throughout scripture. The meaning and significance of baptism is woven throughout the entire fabric of the Bible including the Spirit of God hovering over the waters at creation, Moses leading the people of Israel through the waters of the Red Sea in Exodus, the major and minor prophets calling God’s people to remember who they are as God's children, the New Testament rich with baptismal examples at the birth of the church, letters and visions at the end of the Bible describing a new life in Christ.
Further, we are blessed with other meaningful writings by Christians throughout time that describe what baptism has meant and how it has been done worldwide. As an example, there is The Didache - the earliest written record describing Christian worship (including baptism) during the second and third centuries A.D. This document, and others like it, help us understand baptism within the legacy and practice of the worldwide church throughout time.
That said, we've collected some specific biblical passages that deal with baptism. Find them at christchurchmequon.life/baptismverses
» I still want to learn more. Do you have any resources that might help?
