Baptismal Integrity Resource Pages

Ecumenical Integrity on Baptism

Clifford Owen, Chairman of Baptismal Integrity, is also Ecumenical Officer for the Diocese of Worcester.

Two recent publications have come my way. The first, The Search for Christian Unity, from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, is a popular version of the thicker Catholic Ecumenical Handbook, which sets out guidelines for Roman Catholics dealing with non-Catholic Christians. One phrase which is frequent is ‘ecclesial bodies’, which generally means ‘a Christian body with something important missing’! As an ecumenical officer my job is to be aquainted with this kind of book and to try to understand the positions the Catholics are coming from.

One of the things assumed these days is that we all start from a common baptism. I wonder if this is assumed too readily? It has been challenged by two denominations (The Society of Friends and the Salvation Army) for whom baptism is not the foundation, but is for more catholically-rooted traditions.

In the book, baptism has a mention in several places. Two places link faith with the sacrament: ‘The minister’s insufficient faith does not invalidate a baptism, as long as he/she intended to do what the Church does. This intention is presumed unless there are serious grounds for doubting it.’ (p43.2 - there are echoes here of Article 26 of the 39 Articles). And, concerning godparents: ‘they are there not only for the candidate’s Christian education, but to represent a faith community and to guarantee the candidate’s faith and desire for membership’ (p44).

The other document which has had a reasonable press launch, though overshadowed by the ‘Canterbury Stakes’, is the proposed Anglican-Methodist Covenant. I do hope this is discussed in some depth throughout the two churches. Again there are some interesting comments on baptism:

‘A vital dimension of full visible unity is the sharing of one baptism and the celebrating of one Eucharist. Anglicans and Methodists already recognise each others’ baptisms ... It has been reinforced by the ecumenical convergence reflected in the Lima Statement ‘Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry’ ... There is a range of views concerning the relation between water baptism, regeneration and the gift of the Spirit, but also a common recognition that these belong together ... Baptism underlies and grounds all ministry because it is through baptism (in the context of faith) that Christians are united with Christ in his death and resurrection’ (paras 121, 122, 143).

If, let’s just suppose, one day in the not too distant future the Church of England and the Methodist Church really did come together it would represent the first union in the homeland that the C of E has entered into since its sixteenth century birth. Much water will need to flow under the bridges of dialogue before then, but baptism (and confirmation) will be an important part of the discussion.

It seems a long fourteen years since a new movement to discuss infant baptism made it to the “World at One” and John Suchet treated the matter with his usual BBC polished seriousness. Much has happened since them to conspire to make this issue fade or be shoved into the background. But I have a feeling that, like the mice in one of my churches, this issue will be back. It may well be in an ecumenical context that we face them again. I hope the above will be a taster for you.

	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), pages 12-13.
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	Ecumenical Integrity on Baptism Clifford Owen, Chairman of Baptismal Integrity, is also Ecumenical Officer for the Diocese of Worcester. Two recent publications have come my way. The first, The Search for Christian Unity, from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, is a popular version of the thicker Catholic Ecumenical Handbook, which sets out guidelines for Roman Catholics dealing with non-Catholic Christians. One phrase which is frequent is ‘ecclesial bodies’, which generally means ‘a Christian body with something important missing’! As an ecumenical officer my job is to be aquainted with this kind of book and to try to understand the positions the Catholics are coming from. One of the things assumed these days is that we all start from a common baptism. I wonder if this is assumed too readily? It has been challenged by two denominations (The Society of Friends and the Salvation Army) for whom baptism is not the foundation, but is for more catholically-rooted traditions. In the book, baptism has a mention in several places. Two places link faith with the sacrament: ‘The minister’s insufficient faith does not invalidate a baptism, as long as he/she intended to do what the Church does. This intention is presumed unless there are serious grounds for doubting it.’ (p43.2 - there are echoes here of Article 26 of the 39 Articles). And, concerning godparents: ‘they are there not only for the candidate’s Christian education, but to represent a faith community and to guarantee the candidate’s faith and desire for membership’ (p44). The other document which has had a reasonable press launch, though overshadowed by the ‘Canterbury Stakes’, is the proposed Anglican-Methodist Covenant. I do hope this is discussed in some depth throughout the two churches. Again there are some interesting comments on baptism: ‘A vital dimension of full visible unity is the sharing of one baptism and the celebrating of one Eucharist. Anglicans and Methodists already recognise each others’ baptisms ... It has been reinforced by the ecumenical convergence reflected in the Lima Statement ‘Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry’ ... There is a range of views concerning the relation between water baptism, regeneration and the gift of the Spirit, but also a common recognition that these belong together ... Baptism underlies and grounds all ministry because it is through baptism (in the context of faith) that Christians are united with Christ in his death and resurrection’ (paras 121, 122, 143). If, let’s just suppose, one day in the not too distant future the Church of England and the Methodist Church really did come together it would represent the first union in the homeland that the C of E has entered into since its sixteenth century birth. Much water will need to flow under the bridges of dialogue before then, but baptism (and confirmation) will be an important part of the discussion. It seems a long fourteen years since a new movement to discuss infant baptism made it to the “World at One” and John Suchet treated the matter with his usual BBC polished seriousness. Much has happened since them to conspire to make this issue fade or be shoved into the background. But I have a feeling that, like the mice in one of my churches, this issue will be back. It may well be in an ecumenical context that we face them again. I hope the above will be a taster for you.
	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 19th May 2002.