Baptismal Integrity Resource Pages

Integrity to the centre

Some thoughts on our journey over the years, by John Hartley (Editor)

I remember my suspicions of this newly-hatched movement when I first read about it in the church press, during my first curacy. I had always been concerned that infant baptism shouldn’t be offered to parents who had neither the faith they would profess nor the intention of bringing their child regularly to church. But at the same time I saw that scripture did not forbid infant baptism, and I wondered at this movement which looked like it might throw all babies out with the font-water. (I hasten to point out that the then officers allayed my fears!)

It’s interesting to look back from fifteen years later and see the progress we’ve made. In some ways we still struggle. Our membership isn’t large, we have (until recently) laboured under the burden of an unfortunate name, we have difficulty getting our speakers onto public platforms, the press doesn’t ask our views, and many of our clergy sympathisers often keep quiet lest they incur difficulty in finding future incumbencies. But in other ways our achievements have been breathtaking.

An older incumbent I knew then had battled alone in his previous Deanery. His baptismal discipline had been completely undermined by laxity in neighbouring parishes, and misunderstood by his own congregation. But now it’s usual to find Bishops Regulations insisting that clergy obtain consent before baptizing over boundaries, most congregations are uneasy about indiscriminate baptisms, and most clergy chapters operate an agreement to respect each others’ views. Indiscriminate baptizers are on the defensive, and lack of a proper preparation course makes other clergy sniff disdainfully.

On the organisational front, we now operate the most sensible web-site there is on the subject of baptism. This newsletter is widely respected, and when I give it out at chapter they might smile but they mostly read it with interest! Our “Integrity in Baptism” publication, which we sent to theological colleges, was well-received and generated a number of requests for extra copies. We have some of the foremost liturgists among our sympathisers, and even when new liturgies don’t say exactly what we want, they say a lot more than what we feared.

In short, although Baptismal Integrity (with capitals) may still be marginal, we have succeeded in moving baptismal integrity (with small letters) into the centre of the church. No small achievement, and let’s give thanks!

John Hartley

	Baptismal Integrity Go to the index of other articles to do with Baptismal Integrity. Go to John's Brinkster Home Page. BI Update 43 (Spring 2002), page 1.
Index of articles Update 43 (Spring 2002) To the centre More complex Surfed yet? Rational? Confirmation 1 Confirmation 2 Confirmation 3 Ecumenical Review: Kuhrt Gainsborough Small Print	Integrity to the centre Some thoughts on our journey over the years, by John Hartley (Editor) I remember my suspicions of this newly-hatched movement when I first read about it in the church press, during my first curacy. I had always been concerned that infant baptism shouldn’t be offered to parents who had neither the faith they would profess nor the intention of bringing their child regularly to church. But at the same time I saw that scripture did not forbid infant baptism, and I wondered at this movement which looked like it might throw all babies out with the font-water. (I hasten to point out that the then officers allayed my fears!) It’s interesting to look back from fifteen years later and see the progress we’ve made. In some ways we still struggle. Our membership isn’t large, we have (until recently) laboured under the burden of an unfortunate name, we have difficulty getting our speakers onto public platforms, the press doesn’t ask our views, and many of our clergy sympathisers often keep quiet lest they incur difficulty in finding future incumbencies. But in other ways our achievements have been breathtaking. An older incumbent I knew then had battled alone in his previous Deanery. His baptismal discipline had been completely undermined by laxity in neighbouring parishes, and misunderstood by his own congregation. But now it’s usual to find Bishops Regulations insisting that clergy obtain consent before baptizing over boundaries, most congregations are uneasy about indiscriminate baptisms, and most clergy chapters operate an agreement to respect each others’ views. Indiscriminate baptizers are on the defensive, and lack of a proper preparation course makes other clergy sniff disdainfully. On the organisational front, we now operate the most sensible web-site there is on the subject of baptism. This newsletter is widely respected, and when I give it out at chapter they might smile but they mostly read it with interest! Our “Integrity in Baptism” publication, which we sent to theological colleges, was well-received and generated a number of requests for extra copies. We have some of the foremost liturgists among our sympathisers, and even when new liturgies don’t say exactly what we want, they say a lot more than what we feared. In short, although Baptismal Integrity (with capitals) may still be marginal, we have succeeded in moving baptismal integrity (with small letters) into the centre of the church. No small achievement, and let’s give thanks! John Hartley
	Go to the index of other articles to do with Baptismal Integrity. Go to John's Brinkster Home Page. This web page was last updated on 26th July 2002.