St. Mark's Lutheran Church
628 E. Chester Pike, Ridley Park, PA  19078

Holy Baptism

Our Lord Jesus commanded the Church to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20a, NIV). He also promised that “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16a, NIV). The Lord also commanded that little children be brought to him, and that they not be hindered (Matt. 19:14).

Our Small Catechism teaches that baptism “works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this” (Holy Baptism, Article I). Baptism indicates that “the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever” (Holy Baptism, Article IV).

Dr. C.F.W. Walther, first president of the Missouri Synod, believed “it is right to administer Baptism not only to the children of Christians but also to those unbelievers if they come under the authority of Christians and there is hope that they may be raised in true faith and godliness” (Walther’s Pastoral Theology, p.97). He also wrote that “the alleged Baptism of all preachers in Antitrinitarian fellowships is not to be recognized as a true Baptism” (Walther, p.93).

Guided by Holy Scripture, the confessions of the Lutheran Church, and sound Lutheran teaching, we believe the following with regards to the administration of Holy Baptism:

ADULTS
I. Non-baptized adults who desire to be members of the Body of Christ among us are to be taught the essentials of the Christian faith from the Small Catechism, and then baptized.
II. Adults who desire to be members and were baptized in a fellowship judged to be non-Trinitarian by the pastor are to be taught the essentials of the Christian faith from the Small Catechism and then baptized (for example: churches that deny the deity of Jesus Christ, or the deity and/or personhood of the Holy Spirit).
III. Adults baptized by Trinitarian fellowships, even those in error on other points of doctrine, are to be admitted into fellowship by confirmation of their faith.

CHILDREN
I. If one or both parents of a child are communicant members, or are in the process of becoming communicant members, the child should be baptized as soon as possible.
II. If neither parent is a communicant member or in the process of becoming one, at least one communicant member of the congregation (grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend) will sponsor them at their baptism and see to their spiritual upbringing as the Lord gives them the ability.
III. A child of parents who both object to the child’s Baptism should not be baptized.

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