Why would I need a conditional baptism?

[asteroid]

I saw the priest here on Thursday. He says I may need a conditional baptism.

Why is this?

I was baptised, by immersion, as an adult believer and follower of Christ. I was baptised in what used to be a Baptist church but is now a church based around Christian community houses where all things are held in common as in the earliest church. That church can be found online at:

jesus.org.uk/

They believe in the apostles, Nicene & Chalcedonian Creed.

They baptise believers by immersion in the name of God, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and into the church - all of which are said of baptism in the New Testament.

My baptism was witnessed at the time by several hundred people. We have photographs. It was also videoed and has since been witnessed, much to my surprise, by thousands of people at a conference at Wembley and in the section of an introductory teaching video that covers baptism. I’m sure if necessary I can get a letter from that church saying that I was baptised - a friend of mine needed one when entering the Anglican priesthood.

Was there something wrong with the form of words used? Was there something wrong with my intent or the intent of those baptising?

Why would I need a conditional baptism?

Blessings

Asteroid

 

[Deacon_Ed]

A conditional baptism is used whenever there is a doubt about the validity of a baptism in another faith tradition. In general the baptism given by Baptists is considered valid, and it sounds like yours was. The priest may simply be covering all the bases, especially if you don’t have a baptismal certificate. However, I would think the number of witnesses that could testify to the fact that you were baptized should be sufficient. In any event, since the church where you were baptized still exists, see if you can get a baptismal certificate from there. That may resolve the question.

Deacon Ed

 

[stbruno]

You obviously were baptized by water, but the Tridentine formula must also be observed. I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit to make you validly baptized. Perhaps you can get a copy of the rite from your Baptist church.