Baptism

===Protestantism===
====Anabaptist====
Early Anabaptists were given that name because they re-baptized persons who they felt had not been properly baptized, as they did not recognize infant baptism.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Anabaptist | title = Online Etymological Dictionary | orig-date = 2001 | year = 2010 | first = Douglas | last = Harper | contribution = Anabaptist | access-date = August 6, 2013}}</ref>

The traditional form of Anabaptist baptism was pouring, the form commonly used in Western Christianity in the early 16th century when they emerged. Pouring continues to be normative in [[Mennonite]], [[Amish]] and [[Hutterite]] traditions of Anabaptist Christianity.<ref name="KurianDay2017">{{cite book |last1=Kurian |first1=George Thomas |last2=Day |first2=Sarah Claudine |title=The Essential Handbook of Denominations and Ministries |date=14 March 2017 |publisher=Baker Books |isbn=978-1-4934-0640-1 |language=en |quote=The Conservative Mennonite Conference practices believer's baptism, seen as an external symbol of internal spiritual purity and performed by immersion or pouring of water on the head; Communion; washing the feet of the saints, following Jesus's example and reminding believers of the need to be washed of pride, rivalry, and selfish motives; anointing the sick with oil--a symbol of the Holy Spirit and of the healing power of God--offered with the prayer of faith; and laying on of hands for ordination, symbolizing the imparting of responsibility and of God's power to fulfill that responsibility.}}</ref><ref name="Kraybill2010">{{cite book |last1=Kraybill |first1=Donald B. |title=Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites |date=1 November 2010 |publisher=JHU Press |isbn=978-0-8018-9911-9 |page=23 |language=English |quote=All Amish, Hutterites, and most Mennonites baptized by pouring or sprinkling.}}</ref> The [[Mennonite Brethren Church]], [[Schwarzenau Brethren]] and [[River Brethren]] denominations of Anabaptist Christianity practice immersion. The Schwarzenau church immerses in the forward position three times, for each person of the Holy Trinity and because "the Bible says Jesus bowed his head (letting it fall forward) and died. Baptism represents a dying of the old, sinful self."<ref name="Durnbaugh1983">{{cite book |last1=Durnbaugh |first1=Donald F. |title=The Brethren Encyclopedia |date=1983 |publisher=Brethren Encyclopedia, Incorporated |isbn=978-0-318-00487-7 |page=82 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="Mitchell2007">{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Larry |title=Old Brethren follow distinctive practices |url=https://www.chicoer.com/2007/11/04/old-brethren-follow-distinctive-practices/ |publisher=[[Chico Enterprise-Record]] |access-date=11 May 2022 |language=English |date=4 November 2007}}</ref> Today all modes of baptism (such as pouring and immersion) can be found among Anabaptists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baptism - GAMEO |url=https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Baptism |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=gameo.org}}</ref>

[[Conservative Mennonites|Conservative Mennonite Anabaptists]] count baptism to be one of the [[Ordinance (Christianity)|seven ordinances]].<ref name="Hartzler2013">{{cite book |last1=Hartzler |first1=Rachel Nafziger |title=No Strings Attached: Boundary Lines in Pleasant Places: A History of Warren Street / Pleasant Oaks Mennonite Church |date=30 April 2013 |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |isbn=978-1-62189-635-7 |language=English}}</ref> In [[Anabaptist theology]], baptism is a part of the process of salvation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fretz |first1=Clarence Y. |title=How To Make SURE You Are Saved |url=https://www.anabaptists.org/tracts/saved.html |publisher=Anabaptists |access-date=22 May 2021 |language=English}}</ref> For Anabaptists, "believer's baptism consists of three parts, the Spirit, the water, and the blood—these three witnesses on earth."<ref name="Eby">{{cite web |last1=Eby |first1=Edwin R. |title=Early Anabaptist Positions on Believer's Baptism and a Challenge for Today |url=https://www.pilgrimministry.org/literature/early-anabaptist-positions-on-believer%E2%80%99s-baptism-and-a-challenge-for-today |publisher=Pilgrim Mennonite Conference |access-date=11 May 2022 |language=English |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511071751/https://www.pilgrimministry.org/literature/early-anabaptist-positions-on-believer%E2%80%99s-baptism-and-a-challenge-for-today }}</ref> According to [[Anabaptist theology]]: (1) In believer's baptism, the Holy Spirit witnesses the candidate entering into a [[covenant (religion)|covenant]] with God.<ref name="Eby"/> (2) God, in believer's baptism, "grants a baptized believer the water of baptism as a sign of His covenant with them—that such a one indicates and publicly confesses that he wants to live in true obedience towards God and fellow believers with a blameless life."<ref name="Eby"/> (3) Integral to believer's baptism is the candidate's mission to witness to the world even unto [[Christian martyr|martyrdom]], echoing Jesus' words that "they would be baptized with His baptism, witnessing to the world when their blood was spilt."<ref name="Eby"/>

====Baptist====
For the majority of Baptists, Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|28:19}}</ref><ref name="BFM">{{cite web |title=VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper |url-status=dead |work=The Baptist Faith and Message |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |access-date=July 29, 2009 |url=http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp#vii |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303000119/http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp#vii |archive-date=March 3, 2009 }}</ref> Baptism does not accomplish anything in itself, but is an outward personal sign that the person's sins have already been washed away by the blood of Christ's cross.<ref name="London">{{cite web |url-status=dead |title=London Baptist Confession of 1644 |at=XVII. |url=http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/bc1644.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617103253/http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/bc1644.htm |archive-date=June 17, 2010 |website=The Spurgeon Archive }}</ref>

[[File:Brownlow-immersion-attack-1856.jpg|thumb|Engraving from [[William G. Brownlow]]'s book ''The Great Iron Wheel Examined'', showing a Baptist minister changing clothes in front of horrified women after administering a [[#Submersion|baptism by immersion]].]]For a new convert the general practice is that baptism also allows the person to be a registered member of the local Baptist congregation (though some churches have adopted "new members classes" as an additional mandatory step for congregational membership).{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Regarding rebaptism the general rules are:{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}
* baptisms by other than immersion are not recognized as valid and therefore rebaptism by immersion is required; and
* baptisms by immersion in other denominations may be considered valid if performed after the person having professed faith in Jesus Christ (though among the more conservative groups such as [[Independent Baptists]], rebaptism may be required by the local congregation if performed in a non-Baptist church – and, in extreme cases, even if performed within a Baptist church that wasn't an Independent Baptist congregation)

For newborns, there is a ceremony called [[child dedication]].<ref>David Blankenhorn, ''The Faith Factor in Fatherhood: Renewing the Sacred Vocation of Fathering'', Lexington Books, USA, 1999, p. 103</ref>

[[Tennessee]] [[Antebellum South|antebellum]] [[Southern Methodist|Methodist]] [[circuit rider (religious)|circuit rider]] and newspaper publisher [[William G. Brownlow]] stated within his 1856 book ''The Great Iron Wheel Examined; or, Its False Spokes Extracted, and an Exhibition of Elder Graves, Its Builder'' that the immersion baptism practiced within the Baptist churches as found within the United States did not extend in a "regular line of succession...from John the Baptist – but from old Zeke Holliman and his true yoke-fellow, [[Roger Williams|Mr. [Roger] Williams]]" as during 1639 Holliman and Williams first immersion baptized each other and then immersion baptized the ten other members of the [[First Baptist Church in America|first Baptist church]] in [[British America]] at [[Providence, Rhode Island]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brownlow |first=William Gannaway |url=http://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9Kw8AAAAYAAJ |title=The great iron wheel examined; or, its false spokes extracted, and an exhibition of Elder Graves, its builder |date=1856 |publisher=Nashville, Tenn., For the author |others=unknown library}}</ref>

====Churches of Christ====
Baptism in [[Churches of Christ]] is performed only by full bodily immersion,<ref name="Perfect Stranger">{{cite book|first1=Stuart M. |last1=Matlins |first2=Arthur J. |last2= Magida |first3=J. |last3=Magida |title= How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies |publisher= Wood Lake Publishing |year=1999 |isbn= 978-1-896836-28-7 |chapter= Churches of Christ}}</ref>{{rp |107}}<ref name= "Rhodes 2005">{{cite book |first=Ron |last=Rhodes |title=The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations |publisher= Harvest House |year= 2005 |isbn= 0-7369-1289-4}}</ref>{{rp|124}} based on the [[Koine Greek]] verb ''baptizo'' which means to dip, immerse, submerge or plunge.<ref name="Who Are the churches of Christ">{{cite book |last=Baxter |first=Batsell Barrett |author-link=Batsell Barrett Baxter |url=http://www.woodsonchapel.com/coc.php/ |title=Who are the churches of Christ and what do they believe in? |access-date=September 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131110444/http://www.woodsonchapel.com/coc.php/ |archive-date=January 31, 2008 |df=mdy}}, and [http://church-of-christ.org/who.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209022100/http://church-of-christ.org/who.html|date=February 9, 2014}}, {{cite web |title=Church of Christ |url=http://www.cris.com/~mmcoc/coc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509163609/http://www.cris.com/~mmcoc/coc.html |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |access-date=2009-09-10}} and {{cite web |title=Who are the Churches of Christ? |url=http://www.scripturessay.com/article.php?cat%3D%26id%3D6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130131444/http://scripturessay.com/article.php?cat=&id=6 |archive-date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=September 10, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Understanding Four Views on Baptism">{{cite book |first1= Tom J. |last1=Nettles | first2=Richard L. Jr. | last2=Pratt |first3=John H. |last3= Armstrong |first4=Robert |last4=Kolb |title=Understanding Four Views on Baptism |publisher=Zondervan |year=2007 |isbn= 978-0-310-26267-1}}</ref>{{rp|139}}<ref name="Howard 1971">{{cite book |first=V. E. |last=Howard |title=What Is the Church of Christ? |edition=4th |publisher= Central Printers & Publishers |location= West Monroe, [[Louisiana|LO]] |year= 1971}}</ref>{{rp|313–14}}<ref name= "Baptism, Why Wait?">{{cite book |first=Rees |last= Bryant |title=Baptism, Why Wait?: Faith's Response in Conversion |publisher=College Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-89900-858-5}}</ref>{{rp|22}}<ref name="Wharton 1997">{{cite book |first=Edward C. |last= Wharton |title=The Church of Christ: The Distinctive Nature of the New Testament Church |publisher= Gospel Advocate |year=1997 |isbn= 0-89225-464-5}}</ref>{{rp|45–46}} Submersion is seen as more closely conforming to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus than other modes of baptism.<ref name= "Who Are the churches of Christ" /><ref name="Understanding Four Views on Baptism" />{{rp|140}}<ref name= "Howard 1971" />{{rp|314–16}} Churches of Christ argue that historically immersion was the mode used in the 1st century, and that pouring and sprinkling later emerged as secondary modes when immersion was not possible.<ref name="Understanding Four Views on Baptism" />{{rp|140}} Over time these secondary modes came to replace immersion.<ref name="Understanding Four Views on Baptism" />{{rp|140}} Only those mentally capable of belief and repentance are baptized (i.e., [[infant baptism]] is not practiced because the New Testament has no precedent for it).<ref name="Rhodes 2005" />{{rp|124}}<ref name= "Who Are the churches of Christ" /><ref name= "Howard 1971" />{{rp |318–19}}<ref name= "Ferguson 1996">{{cite book |first=Everett |last= Ferguson |author-link= Everett Ferguson |title=The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans |year=1996 |isbn= 978-0-8028-4189-6}}</ref>{{rp|195}}

Churches of Christ have historically had the most conservative position on baptism among the various branches of the [[Restoration Movement]], understanding baptism by immersion to be a necessary part of conversion.<ref name= "Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism">{{cite book |first1= Douglas Allen |last1=Foster |first2= Anthony L. |last2= Dunnavant |title=The Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans |year=2004 |isbn= 978-0-8028-3898-8 |chapter=entry on ''Baptism''}}</ref>{{rp|61}} The most significant disagreements concerned the extent to which a correct understanding of the role of baptism is necessary for its validity.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp|p.61}} [[David Lipscomb]] insisted that if a believer was baptized out of a desire to obey God, the baptism was valid, even if the individual did not fully understand the role baptism plays in salvation.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp|61}} [[Austin McGary]] contended that to be valid, the convert must also understand that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins.<ref name= "Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp|62}} McGary's view became the prevailing one in the early 20th century, but the approach advocated by Lipscomb never totally disappeared.<ref name= "Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp |62}} As such, the general practice among churches of Christ is to require rebaptism by immersion of converts, even those who were previously baptized by immersion in other churches.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

More recently, the rise of the [[International Churches of Christ]] has caused some to reexamine the issue.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp|66}}

Churches of Christ consistently teach that in baptism a believer surrenders his life in faith and obedience to God, and that God "by the merits of Christ's blood, cleanses one from sin and truly changes the state of the person from an alien to a citizen of God's kingdom. Baptism is not a human work; it is the place where God does the work that only God can do."<ref name= "Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp|66}} Baptism is a passive act of faith rather than a meritorious work; it "is a confession that a person has nothing to offer God."<ref name= "Theology Matters" />{{rp|112}} While Churches of Christ do not describe baptism as a "sacrament", their view of it can legitimately be described as "sacramental".<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp |66}}<ref name="Baptism, Why Wait?" />{{rp|186}} They see the power of baptism coming from God, who chose to use baptism as a vehicle, rather than from the water or the act itself,<ref name= "Baptism, Why Wait?" />{{rp|186}} and understand baptism to be an integral part of the conversion process, rather than just a symbol of conversion.<ref name= "Baptism, Why Wait?" />{{rp |184}}

A recent trend is to emphasize the transformational aspect of baptism: instead of describing it as just a legal requirement or sign of something that happened in the past, it is seen as "the event that places the believer 'into Christ' where God does the ongoing work of transformation."<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp|66}} There is a minority that downplays the importance of baptism to avoid sectarianism, but the broader trend is to "reexamine the richness of the biblical teaching of baptism and to reinforce its central and essential place in Christianity."<ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Baptism" />{{rp|66}}

Because of the belief that baptism is a necessary part of salvation, some Baptists hold that the Churches of Christ endorse the doctrine of [[baptismal regeneration]].<ref name="Foster">Douglas A. Foster, [http://www.acu.edu/sponsored/restoration_quarterly/archives/2000s/vol_43_no_2_contents/foster.html "Churches of Christ and Baptism: An Historical and Theological Overview,"] {{webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100520041454/http://www.acu.edu/sponsored/restoration_quarterly/archives/2000s/vol_43_no_2_contents/foster.html |date=May 20, 2010}} ''[[Restoration Quarterly]]'', Volume 43/Number 2 (2001).</ref> However, members of the Churches of Christ reject this, arguing that since faith and repentance are necessary, and that the cleansing of sins is by the blood of Christ through the grace of God, baptism is not an inherently redeeming ritual.<ref name="Understanding Four Views on Baptism" />{{rp|133}}<ref name= "Foster" /><ref name="Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Regeneration">{{cite book |first1=Douglas Allen |last1=Foster |first2=Anthony L. |last2= Dunnavant |title=The Encyclopedia of the Stone–Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |year=2004 |isbn= 978-0-8028-3898-8 |chapter= entry on ''Regeneration''}}</ref>{{rp|630–31}} Rather, their inclination is to point to the biblical passage in which Peter, analogizing baptism to Noah's flood, posits that "likewise baptism doth also now save us" but parenthetically clarifies that baptism is "''not'' the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the ''response of a good conscience'' toward God" (1 Peter 3:21).<ref>[[KJV]], italics inserted.</ref> One author from the churches of Christ describes the relationship between faith and baptism this way, "''Faith'' is the ''reason why'' a person is a child of God; ''baptism'' is the ''time at which'' one is incorporated into Christ and so becomes a child of God" (italics are in the source).<ref name= "Ferguson 1996" />{{rp |170}} Baptism is understood as a confessional expression of faith and repentance,<ref name="Ferguson 1996" />{{rp|179–82}} rather than a "work" that earns salvation.<ref name= "Ferguson 1996" />{{rp |170}}

====Lutheranism====
{{Further|Lutheran sacraments}}
In [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Christianity]], baptism is a sacrament that [[baptismal regeneration|regenerates the soul]].<ref name="Schmid1876">{{cite book |last1=Schmid |first1=Heinrich |title=The Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church |date=1876 |publisher=Lutheran Publication Society |page=595 |language=en|quote=By Baptism we are regenerated and renewed; by the Lord's Supper we are fed and nourished unto eternal life. In ''Baptism'', especially that of infants, faith is kindled by the Holy Spirit; in the use of the ''Supper'' it is increased, confirmed, and sealed. By ''Baptism'' we are grafted into Christ; by the ''salutary use of the Lord's Supper'' we receive a spiritual increase in this relation. By ''Baptism'' we are received into the divine covenant; by the ''use of the Eucharist'' we are preserved in it, or, when we fall from it by sins against conscience, we are restored to it by true penitence.}}</ref> Upon one's baptism, one receives the [[Holy Spirit]] and becomes a part of the church.<ref name="Schmid1876"/> According to Martin Luther's [[Luther's Small Catechism|Small Catechism]], it is the word and command of God "in and with the water" that gives baptism its power which "works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luther |first=Martin |date= |title=The Small Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism |url=https://bookofconcord.org/small-catechism/the-sacrament-of-holy-baptism/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=Book of Concord.org}}</ref> In Lutheran theology, baptism is not viewed as a work that the baptizant performs in obedience to the law, but rather a work of God that is received by faith, which "clings to the water."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luther |first=Martin |date= |title=The Large Catechism: Holy Baptism |url=https://bookofconcord.org/large-catechism/holy-baptism/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=Book of Concord.org}}</ref>

====Methodism====
[[File:Baptistry (United Methodist Church of the Saviour).jpg|thumb|upright|A baptistry in a [[Methodist]] church]]
The Methodist [[Articles of Religion (Methodist)|Articles of Religion]], with regard to baptism, teach:<ref name="NettlesPrattKolbCastelein2009">{{cite book|title=Understanding Four Views on Baptism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUmAMlP8YOYC&pg=PA92|year=2009|publisher=Zondervan|language=en|isbn=978-0310866985|page=92|quote=Thomas J. Nettles, Richard L. Pratt Jr., Robert Kolb, John D. Castelein}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.<ref name="NettlesPrattKolbCastelein2009"/>}}
While baptism imparts grace, Methodists teach that a [[Born again#Methodism|personal acceptance of Jesus Christ]] (the first work of grace) is essential to one's salvation;<ref name="FMC2008">{{cite web |title=Baptism and Dedication |url=https://www.fmcic.ca/baptism-and-dedication/ |publisher=[[Free Methodist Church]] |date=3 December 2008 |quote=When they baptize babies, pastors should make sure that their prayers include clear requests that God will bring the children to a personal faith that "owns" what the parents are promising at a time when the children (who "belong" from day one) cannot act for themselves. And when they dedicate children, pastors should make sure that their prayers include clear gratitude to God for the fact that he is already at work in the life of that child, who already "belongs" in the Christian community. Here's what must be stressed: whether at the time of baptism (in the adult baptism tradition) or at the time of confirmation when the vows made earlier by the parents are personally "owned" (in the infant baptism tradition), it is faith in Jesus (dependent trust, not mere cognitive affirmation) that is crucial. Paul goes so far as to say that without faith and obedience, the old rite of circumcision has no value (Romans 2:25). The same is true of baptism. With either rite, clear evangelistic follow-through is crucial.}}</ref><ref name="UMC – By Water and the Spirit"/> during the second work of grace, [[entire sanctification]], a believer is purified of [[original sin]] and made [[holy]].<ref name="Stokes1998">{{cite book|last=Stokes|first=Mack B.|title=Major United Methodist Beliefs|year=1998|publisher=Abingdon Press|language=English|isbn=978-0687082124|page=95}}</ref><ref name="Whidden2005">{{cite web |last1=Whidden |first1=Woodrow W. |title=Adventist Theology: The Wesleyan Connection |url=https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/es/node/203 |publisher=Biblical Research Institute |access-date=30 June 2019 |language=English |date=18 April 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630044749/https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/es/node/203|archive-date=30 June 2019}}</ref> As such, in the Methodist tradition, [[Baptism with the Holy Spirit]] has referred to the second work of grace, [[Christian perfection|entire sanctification]] (Christian perfection).<ref name="UMC2012"/>

In the [[Methodist Church]]es, baptism is a [[sacrament]] of initiation into the [[visible Church]].<ref name="StuartChappell1922">{{cite book|last1=Stuart|first1=George Rutledge|last2=Chappell|first2=Edwin Barfield|title=What Every Methodist Should Know|url=https://archive.org/details/whateverymethod00chapgoog|year=1922|publisher=Lamar & Barton|language=en |page=[https://archive.org/details/whateverymethod00chapgoog/page/n86 83]}}</ref> [[Covenant theology#Wesleyan covenant theology|Wesleyan covenant theology]] further teaches that baptism is a sign and a seal of the covenant of grace:<ref name="Summers1857">{{cite book|last=Summers|first=Thomas Osmond|title=Methodist Pamphlets for the People|year=1857|publisher=E. Stevenson & F. A. Owen for the M. E. Church, South|language=en|page=18}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Of this great new-covenant blessing, baptism was therefore eminently the ''sign''; and it represented "the ''pouring out''" of the Spirit, "the ''descending''" of the Spirit, the "falling" of the Spirit "upon men", by the mode in which it was administered, the pouring of water from above upon the subjects baptized. As a seal, also, or ''confirming'' sign, baptism answers to circumcision.<ref name="Summers1857"/>}}
Methodists recognize three modes of baptism as being valid—"immersion, sprinkling, or pouring" in the name of the [[Holy Trinity]].<ref name="AWMC2014">{{cite book|title=The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Original Allegheny Conference)|year=2014|publisher=[[Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection]]|location=[[Salem, Ohio|Salem]]|language=en|page=140}}</ref>

====Moravianism====
The [[Moravian Church]] teaches that baptism is a sign and a seal, recognizing three modes of baptism as being valid: immersion, aspersion, and affusion.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sacrament of Baptism |date=June 19, 2018 |url=https://www.moravian.org/2018/06/the-sacrament-of-baptism/ |publisher=[[Moravian Church]] |access-date=13 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

====Reformed Protestantism====
{{Main|Reformed baptismal theology}}

In [[Reformed baptismal theology]], baptism is seen as primarily God's offer of [[union with Christ]] and all his benefits to the baptized. This offer is believed to be intact even when it is not received in faith by the person baptized.<ref>{{cite book |last=Riggs |first=John W. |title=Baptism in the Reformed Tradition: A Historical and Practical Theology |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-664-21966-7 |location=Louisville, KY |page=119}}</ref> Reformed theologians believe the Holy Spirit brings into effect the promises signified in baptism.<ref>{{cite book |last=Allen |first=R. Michael |title=Reformed Theology |url=https://archive.org/details/reformedtheology00alle |url-access=limited |year=2010 |publisher=[[T&T Clark]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-567-03430-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/reformedtheology00alle/page/n135 123]–124}}</ref> Baptism is held by almost the entire Reformed tradition to effect regeneration, even in infants who are incapable of faith, by effecting faith which would come to fruition later.<ref>{{cite book |last=Riggs |first=John W. |title=Baptism in the Reformed Tradition: A Historical and Practical Theology |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-664-21966-7 |location=Louisville, KY |page=121}}</ref> Baptism also initiates one into the [[visible church]] and the [[covenant of grace]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Riggs |first=John W. |title=Baptism in the Reformed Tradition: A Historical and Practical Theology |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-664-21966-7 |location=Louisville, KY |page=120}}</ref> Baptism is seen as a replacement of [[circumcision]], which is considered the rite of initiation into the covenant of grace in the Old Testament.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fesko |first=J. V. |title = Word, Water, and Spirit: A Reformed Perspective on Baptism |year=2013 |orig-date=2010 |publisher=Reformation Heritage Books |isbn=978-1-60178-282-3 |location=Grand Rapids, MI |page=159}}</ref>

Reformed Christians believe that immersion is not necessary for baptism to be properly performed, but that pouring or sprinkling are acceptable.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rohls |first=Jan |year=1998 |title=Theologie reformierter Bekenntnisschriften |trans-title=Reformed Confessions: Theology from Zurich to Barmen |language=de |location=Louisville, Kentucky |publisher=[[Westminster John Knox Press]] |isbn=0-664-22078-9 |others=Translated by John Hoffmeyer |orig-date=1987 |page=207}}</ref> Only ordained ministers are permitted to administer baptism in Reformed churches, with no allowance for [[emergency baptism]], though baptisms performed by non-ministers are generally considered valid.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rohls |first=Jan |year=1998 |title=Theologie reformierter Bekenntnisschriften |trans-title=Reformed Confessions: Theology from Zurich to Barmen |language=de |location=Louisville, Kentucky |publisher=[[Westminster John Knox Press]] |isbn=0-664-22078-9 |others=Translated by John Hoffmeyer |orig-date=1987 |pages=207–208}}</ref> Reformed churches, while rejecting the baptismal ceremonies of the Roman Catholic church, accept the validity of baptisms performed with them and do not rebaptize.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rohls |first=Jan |year=1998 |title=Theologie reformierter Bekenntnisschriften |trans-title=Reformed Confessions: Theology from Zurich to Barmen |language=de |location=Louisville, Kentucky |publisher=[[Westminster John Knox Press]] |isbn=0-664-22078-9 |others=Translated by John Hoffmeyer |orig-date=1987 |page=209}}</ref>

====United Protestants====
In [[United Protestant Church]]es, such as the [[United Church of Canada]], [[Church of North India]], [[Church of Pakistan]], [[Church of South India]], [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]], [[Uniting Church in Australia]] and [[United Church of Christ in Japan]], baptism is a [[sacrament]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Baptism and Communion |url=https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/welcome-united-church-canada/what-we-believe/baptism-and-communion |publisher=[[United Church of Canada]] |access-date=28 March 2021 |language=English}}</ref>