The first requirement for membership at Ithaca Presbyterian Church is baptism. You must have been baptised in water as an infant or an adult (in a Christian church or denomination) in order to become a member.
In his essay on baptism, Stephen Wellum writes:
Christian Baptism is one of the two ordinances or sacraments which our Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church, has instituted for the church’s life and health, until the end of the age. As such, water baptism is to be practiced today in obedience to his command (Matt. 28:18-20).
Baptism is understood differently in different churches. Within the Reformed tradition, baptism is understood in a covenantal sense, in which the covenant sign of circumcision (under the old covenant) has been replaced by the covenant sign of baptism (under the new covenant). Both signify God’s “sign and seal” of his covenant promises that those who believe the gospel will be justified.
Stephen Wellum explains (in his essay, see above):
Baptism objectively brings a person (infants and adults) into the visible church, at least, in the case of infants, in the sense that they are “in” the covenant, but not necessarily “of” it. Baptism does not effect a saving union in itself. It’s only by God’s grace, the Spirit making us alive and granting us faith and repentance, that we experience true salvation—the reality to which baptism points. That is why, parallel to the Old Testament, even if infants are baptised under the new covenant and considered covenant members, they are only truly the elect (and part of the invisible church) if they exercise saving faith in Christ.
In other words, baptism does not bring salvation, but it signifies and points to the reality of union with Christ which brings salvation. Baptism is like a wedding ring; it is a sign and symbol which points to a greater reality. Wearing the symbol does not bring about the reality; rather the reality is demonstrated and shown in the wearing of the symbol.
At Ithaca, we practice both infant baptism (by sprinkling water on the infant’s head) and adult baptism (by either pouring water on the adult’s head, or immersing them in water). We baptise the infants of believers with the prayer that they will one day place their faith in Christ for their salvation, while simultaneously recognising them as part of the body of Christ and the family of God. And we baptise adults (and children) who have not yet been baptised who confess to their faith in Christ and union with him.
FURTHER READING
- Baptism, online article by Stephen Wellum
- The promise of baptism: an introduction to Baptism in Scripture and the Reformed tradition, book by James V. Brownson
- Covenantal baptism, book by Jason Helopoulos
- Baptism: three views, edited by David F. Wright ; contributions by Sinclair B. Ferguson, Anthony N.S. Lane and Bruce A. Ware