Subject: May I baptize? |
Bible Note: Greetings Jim! As a pastor, I would basically agree with you with one small disclaimer. There is only one command in the Great Commission, "make disciples". The other verbs are all participles describing the process, "while going..., teaching..., and baptizing....". There isn't any Scripture in the Bible that designates who baptizes. So I would agree that any believe can baptize. However, baptism is usually part of the process of identifying a new believer with a local church body. So, normally I would say it should be done by the pastor or staff. However, I would not say this is an ironclad rule. In fact, in the churches where I have pastored, I have always tried to create teams of believers who would go into nursing homes and homes to administer communion. This is typically since as a pastoral duty, but I tried to expand it. In the same way, I usually have lay leader assist me in baptisms as well. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |