The wording below, taken from our statement of beliefs, is read at each baptism service and sets Baptism and Communion in their context as the two outward, visible marks of the people of God in the New Testament age.

We believe that Baptism and Communion were given by Christ for his own glory and the spiritual good of his people, and that both are to be observed in the church throughout the gospel age.

The practice of baptising those who believe rests on the direct command of the risen Lord Jesus and is supported by the clear example of the apostolic church. Believers who have made a credible profession of faith in Christ are the only ones who should be baptised. Furthermore, we believe that the symbolic nature of baptism is displayed by being immersed in water, which declares, according to the Scripture, the believer’s identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.

Because baptism is based on belief, we make every effort to ensure that those who are baptised know and understand the gospel message, as far as they are able, and have responded by trusting Christ for forgiveness of sins and thus receiving the new life of the Spirit. There is no additional qualification beyond the ‘credible profession of faith’ mentioned above. However, baptism is not only the mark of belonging to Christ, but also the mark of belonging to Christ’s people, worldwide and local. We therefore regard baptism as the ‘doorway’ to church membership. We would not baptise someone without also receiving them into membership, because becoming a Christian is like being born, spiritually, into a family, and it is within the life of that spiritual family that the new Christian will grow.