To this: If we choose to recommend to delay baptism of younger people, what are we going to do to recognize their step of faith. Because if we simply put them off then we may end up doing more harm by giving the impression that they are too young to be considered a "real Christian."

Nathan responded:

This is one of the really important questions in this discussion. In fact, I reckon that one of the reasons that infant baptism still exists is that Baptists have seldom done a good job of explaining or ritualising the relationship of our children to the church and the kingdom. Baptist have won the argument about the normative relationship of baptism to conscious faith, but infant baptism is answering another need that we haven't adequately addressed and so it survives.

That may also, in part, explain why the average age of baptism among Southern Baptists in the USA has come down so far. The average is now down to 12, and some congregations are baptising children as young as 3 or 4 - "if they are old enough to verbalise a 'decision' for Christ, then they are old enough to be baptised". I think it makes a mockery the historic Baptist convictions on the subject, but that's what is happening.

What I would propose in order to recognise and celebrate children's stages of faith is a series of rites that point to baptism, but which take seriously the developing identity of the person concerned. I think sometimes we resort to baptism for these children because we have had a failure of imagination in promoting more suitable alternatives, and therefore the children have no idea what else to ask for and we have no idea what else to offer them.

I would propose a rite in which several things happen: 1. The child is given an opportunity to attest to their faith and commitment, either by way of testimony or by answering questions. 2. The congregation, and perhaps some specially chosen mentors, makes vows to continue to welcome, nurture and pray for the child, and to continue to model Christian faith and discipleship before them 3. The child is presented with a resource suitable to their age: eg. a children's Bible, a book of children's prayers, etc, and at subsequent rites in the child's development, something more advanced is given. 4. There are prayers of dedication and blessing which include reference to the continuing journey of growth and ask God to bring the child in due time to the waters of baptism.

Peace and hope,

Nathan Nettleton