Calendar Item Text: 420-439.01-MR

Understanding Calendar Item Numbers

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The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:

Amend ¶ 439.1:

b) ...the responsibilities of the parent(s) and the sponsor(s) for the Christian training for the baptized child, and how these obligations may be properly discharged. (See ¶ 224.)

c) To encourage reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant and renewal of baptismal vows at different stages of life. The sacrament of baptism may not be repeated. The practice of re-baptism does not conform with God's action in baptism and is not consistent with Wesleyan tradition and the historic teaching of the church. Therefore, the pastor should counsel any person seeking re-baptism to participate in a rite of re-affirmation of baptismal vows.

MINORITY REPORT

Whereas there is pastoral confusion in some segments of the United Methodist Church on the issue of rebaptism;

and, whereas, the doctrine of our church unequivocally affirms only one baptism;

Therefore, be it resolved that ¶ 439.1.c shall be worded as originally proposed by the General Board of Discipleship (DCA, Vol. I, p. 1058, Petition #21457).

Charles W. Brockwell, Jr.

J. Philip Wogaman

Duane V. Sarazin

Shirley D. Beyers

Robert E. Stillwell

Chester Jones

Valerie W. Stultz

Penelope V. Eberhart

Malone Dodson

Ward Jackson

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Calendar Item Text: 420-439.01-MR1996 United Methodist General Conference