Question about Church of Christ Baptism

[curtishouse29]

I was a part of the Church of Christ denomination in the past and was even baptized there for the remission of sins but the part that gets to me is that I can’t remember if I was baptized in Jesus’s name or in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Does anybody know the official way in which the Church of Christ baptizes? I am going through RCIA right now and it is vital for me to find out if my baptism was valid or if I’m going to have to be re-baptized. Thanks in advance for your help. God bless.

Curtis

 

[bpbasilphx]

There is no official “Church of Christ” position on anything.

There are ChurcheS of Christ, and they split up or are defined in many different ways, from class/non-class (whether or not to have Sunday Schools) to one-cupper/two-cuppers (whether to use a single cup or shot glasses at communion).

It would not surprise me to know that there are some CofC that use Jesus only.

I would recommend that since this cannot be determined, you be baptized conditionally.

 

[curtishouse29]

There is no official “Church of Christ” position on anything.

There are ChurcheS of Christ, and they split up or are defined in many different ways, from class/non-class (whether or not to have Sunday Schools) to one-cupper/two-cuppers (whether to use a single cup or shot glasses at communion).

It would not surprise me to know that there are some CofC that use Jesus only.

I would recommend that since this cannot be determined, you be baptized conditionally.

Very true about how the CofC isn’t united on anything. Since it seems you are right and I will need to have a conditional baptism, the question of my first confession comes into play and should I have to confess any mortal sins I have committed since I was baptized back when I was with the CofC or will my sins be washed away and my slate will be clean after my valid baptism with the Catholic church?

 

[puzzleannie]

I ? I am going through RCIA right now and it is vital for me to find out if my baptism was valid or if I’m going to have to be re-baptized. Thanks in advance for your help. God bless.

Curtis

you discuss this with the priest who is preparing you, or with the RCIA director and priest together, Your diocese has a list of denominations with valid and invalid baptisms. In no case will you be rebaptized, since baptism is once for all, however it may be that you will have a conditional baptism. In this case, the Trinitarian formula is preceded by the words “If you are not already baptized, I baptize you . … .”

If there are any family members around (who you can comfortably talk to about this) who witnessed your baptism they may remember how it was done.

 

[bengal_fan]

i attended a Church of Christ college my freshman year and had to study the overall view of baptism within the group. they believe that baptism is necessary for salvation (not common among protestants), the believe only in “believer’s baptism”, and they do (generally) baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. of course there are many splinter groups, but if it was a fairly mainstream C of C church, then the baptism was valid (almost more so than a lot of other protestant churches because they almost have a sacramental view of baptism).

 

[sarita]

I’m a convert from the non-institutional version of the Church of Christ. Baptisms at my congregations were done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Is there anyone you can talk to who was around when you were baptised? I didn’t have a baptismal certificate so I had to have my mother write and sign a statement confirming the circumstances surrounding my baptism.

 

[YADA]

I was baptized Church of Christ at Church Camp…fuzzy about the location [somewhere in the Western South/Central Oregon Woods] and the date [Summer, and I am pretty sure between my 6th and 7th grade years] … the Church of Christ did not have baptismal certificates… my pastor was contacted and had to receive my parents permission before I was baptised and that meant a two day delay from my request to the actual baptism…

That said, and for all of the unknowns - I am clear & certain about the form, “In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”…so I was not re-baptized nor conditionally baptized …

I was baptized in the Church of christ that had a piano but my step dad did not care for that Church of Christ [the only one in that small town … he was of the no piano [or any musical instruments] in church variety! ]

Good Luck … I have been working with our parish RCIA formation for over a decade now…

 

[RHisComingHome]

Since there are many different branches that call themselves “Church of Christ,” it’s hard to tell. I know that in my RCIA class, one of the guys was baptized by that denomination and it was not a Trinitarian baptism. Therefore, it wasn’t valid.

 

[curtishouse29]

you discuss this with the priest who is preparing you, or with the RCIA director and priest together, Your diocese has a list of denominations with valid and invalid baptisms. In no case will you be rebaptized, since baptism is once for all, however it may be that you will have a conditional baptism. In this case, the Trinitarian formula is preceded by the words “If you are not already baptized, I baptize you . … .”

If there are any family members around (who you can comfortably talk to about this) who witnessed your baptism they may remember how it was done.

My mother-in-law as well as my wife was there when I was baptized. My wife is leaning more towards being baptized in Jesus’s name as the way my baptism was performed but shes not completely sure. I’m going to RCIA tonight and I hope the Priest will be there again tonight (He has been for the last two meetings). Maybe I can get some much-needed clarification

 

[curtishouse29]

i attended a Church of Christ college my freshman year and had to study the overall view of baptism within the group. they believe that baptism is necessary for salvation (not common among protestants), the believe only in “believer’s baptism”, and they do (generally) baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. of course there are many splinter groups, but if it was a fairly mainstream C of C church, then the baptism was valid (almost more so than a lot of other protestant churches because they almost have a sacramental view of baptism).

The most ironic thing about the Church of Christ (at least the one I attended) is that they vehemently hate the Catholic church soo much and except for the Magisterium and the Sacraments, they are so alike its scary lol

 

[curtishouse29]

I’m a convert from the non-institutional version of the Church of Christ. Baptisms at my congregations were done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Is there anyone you can talk to who was around when you were baptised? I didn’t have a baptismal certificate so I had to have my mother write and sign a statement confirming the circumstances surrounding my baptism.

I e-mailed the preacher (they hated the name “Pastor”) over there at my old Church of Christ and told him that I need some verification of my baptism because I joined a new church and he said he was going to forward my request over to the secretary. I guess we’ll see what kind of information they’ll send me.

 

[curtishouse29]

I was baptized Church of Christ at Church Camp…fuzzy about the location [somewhere in the Western South/Central Oregon Woods] and the date [Summer, and I am pretty sure between my 6th and 7th grade years] … the Church of Christ did not have baptismal certificates… my pastor was contacted and had to receive my parents permission before I was baptised and that meant a two day delay from my request to the actual baptism…

That said, and for all of the unknowns - I am clear & certain about the form, “In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”…so I was not re-baptized nor conditionally baptized …

I was baptized in the Church of christ that had a piano but my step dad did not care for that Church of Christ [the only one in that small town … he was of the no piano [or any musical instruments] in church variety! ]

Good Luck … I have been working with our parish RCIA formation for over a decade now…

I just wish all the CofC’ers baptized in the same way. According to them, there doesnt have to be a “magic wording” during baptism. Either in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or In Jesus’s Name is the same to them. Maybe I can get some specifics out of them

 

[curtishouse29]

Since there are many different branches that call themselves “Church of Christ,” it’s hard to tell. I know that in my RCIA class, one of the guys was baptized by that denomination and it was not a Trinitarian baptism. Therefore, it wasn’t valid.

That’s exactly my problem. It would be better if I remembered what way I was baptized. I just want to know one way or the other so I can move forward and leave that CofC stuff behind me for good

 

[RHisComingHome]

That’s exactly my problem. It would be better if I remembered what way I was baptized. I just want to know one way or the other so I can move forward and leave that CofC stuff behind me for good

I definitely understand your frustration! I was glad I had been unbaptized because there wasn’t any of that confusion. It was important for me to be “saved” as a child but baptism wasn’t important at all for some odd reason. I wish you luck on your journey!

 

[curtishouse29]

I just found out on Friday by my in-laws who were in attendance during my baptism that I was indeed baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit so my baptism is valid! Thank you all for writing responses…Now onto thinking about all the sins I have committed in the last three years for my first Confession…This should really help me be even more thankful for the sins that the Lord already washed away during baptism God bless you all.

Curtis

 

[sarita]

Great news!

At least you only have three years worth to confess. I had 16 years between my baptism and my reception into the church and those years included college at the state party school!!

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I’ve somehow managed to break all 10 commandments…”

Poor Fr.

 

[curtishouse29]

Yeah I know where youre coming from…I’ve been pretty horrible for 2/3 of the last three years I think at least…Really humbles you when you start sin counting.