IPHC theological roots are Methodist. Because of that, some of the earliest IPHC ministers (turn of the 20th century) actually practiced infant baptism. That position is not practiced today and infants are "dedicated." Water baptism is reserved for persons old enough to have made a conscious decision of faith in Jesus Christ.

The implications of this shift are important. Infant baptism presumes that baptism is a sacrament. A sacrament is a means of divine grace whereby grace is actually bestowed upon the recipient by the act of baptism. By moving towards the actual practice of baptism of those who have made a conscious decision, the church has in practice rejected a sacramental approach to baptism in favor of viewing baptism as an ordinance of the church, a public sign, a testimony, of faith in Christ.

As to the mode of baptism, the church usually practices immersion. We are not dogmatic on this issue and if a person is unable to be immersed (due to health condition, etc) sprinkling is acceptable. While we accept the Biblical injunction to be baptized, we do not take the view that a person is not saved unless he or she has been baptized in water. We believe that the reality of salvation occurs by faith in Christ and that water baptism is the outward testimony to the spiritual reality that has occurred in a person's heart.

As to the age of baptism, that is usually dependent upon the individual, parents (in the case of a child), and the pastor.

As to the baptismal formula, IPHC holds to the doctrine of the Trinity expressed in the historic Christian confessions (The Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed) and therefore the minister baptizes "In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (or Spirit)."

IPHC does not insist that persons previously baptized be re-baptized when they join a local IPHC church. We accept the legitimacy of baptism in any Christian church. There are instances where individuals were baptized as small children or infants, have no strong memory of the event and desire to be baptized as adults. Usually that is done as a way of expressing their current faith in Christ and providing meaning to this experience in their walk with Christ.

As a Pentecostal denomination, we believe that the Bible teaches the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a separate spiritual experience for the born again believer (Acts 2). The sign of this baptism is speaking in other tongues rather than immersion in water. But even with this distinction, there is only one baptism, that of water baptism, that is associated with entrance into the Christian community by faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:5).

Last update on 7/30/07
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