Baptism at SPUMC

What is Baptism?

Baptism is the sacrament of initiation into the Body of Christ. Through this sacrament, the church recalls the sacred history of God’s faithfulness to God’s people through the sign of the water: creation itself, the rivers of the Garden of Eden, Noah and the rainbow covenant, Moses and the miraculous division of the water, Jesus baptized in the River Jordan, Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

Baptism is a two-fold symbol. With children, the primary symbol is that God loves us before we are able to respond. The parents make the vows, as does the church.  The baptized child can join the church through Confirmation or even later and make his/her own commitment to Christ at that time. When someone receives baptism as a youth or adult, that person takes the vows for him or herself. Baptism again becomes a sign of God’s love reaching us, only this time, we respond for ourselves. We understand God’s love for us while admitting that we are sinners. Water symbolizes that we are “washed” or “cleansed” from our sin.

Once baptized, always baptized! We recognize the baptism of other Christian churches as valid , and thus, if you were baptized before in another Christian church, you will not be “re-baptized.”  With the sacrament of Baptism, it is very important to remember that it is not the volume of water used – the sacrament is an outward sign that tells others that we have trusted in Christ as our Savior.


Seeking Baptism with SPUMC

At Severna Park United Methodist Church, the sacrament of baptism is offered to infants, children, youth and adults. Parents who wish to have their infants or children baptized need to participate in worship for at least 4 weeks and attend a one-time baptism class to learn about the sacrament of baptism and their role as their child’s spiritual leader. The dates for future classes are shown on the Calendar.

Ready to seek baptism? Fill out the Baptism Form for each person who will be baptized:


Baptism Resources

As you seek baptism for yourself or your child, please review these resources:

Baptism Booklet: This is the main resource that is referenced in the Baptism Class. It includes more about what we believe about baptism, the liturgy we use in our church, and a number of suggestions for incorporating faith practices into your family’s rhythm.

SPARK Family Page: This page of our website has a TON of resources for families in all ages and stages, including links to playlists and favorite bibles for babies, toddlers, children, and youth.

Baptism Form: This form must be returned for each person to be baptized.