Document on Baptism a 'Milestone'

This week’s approval of a "Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism" by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a “milestone” in Protestant/Catholic ecumenical relations, says Lyle Bierma, a Calvin Theological Seminary professor.

"I am very pleased to see that they have done this," said Bierma, who teaches systematic theology at CTS and was one of the CRC members who helped to craft the ecumenical document. "It (the document) is recognition of baptism being one of the foundation stones of the church."

The Christian Reformed Church, the Reformed Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ participated with the Catholic Church in the United States in the dialogue that produced this document. They spent seven years, sorting through differences but ultimately realizing and documenting the core similarities in how these groups view and practice baptism.

"I see this document as a real historic milestone," said Bierma.  "We are recognizing here that properly performed baptisms done with water and under the name of the Trinity are coming out of these denominations."

Besides Bierma, David Engelhard, former general secretary of the denomination, Sue Rozeboom, an author and liturgical specialist, and Ron Feenstra, a CTS professor, served on the committee. Englehard is now deceased.

Bierma said he hopes the document on baptism, a longer report on baptism, as well as a statement on and a report about Communion or the Eucharist will be presented to Synod 2011 by the CRC’s Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee.

Synod will be asked to approve the "Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism" and to receive the other three documents for information.

Besides the CRC, the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ have yet to approve the document. “The CRC has never formally stated that we recognize Catholic baptism,” says Bierma.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) was the first denomination to approve the document on baptism. Part of this process calls for the creation of a common baptismal certificate all of the denominations can use.

The Common Agreement affirms that both Catholic and Reformed Christians hold that baptism is the sacramental bond of unity for the Body of Christ, which is to be performed only once, by an authorized minister, with flowing water, using the Scriptural Trinitarian formula of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” says a USCCB news release

Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, chairman of the USCCB Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, affirmed that Catholics and Reformed Christians "have moved one step closer to that fullness of communion which will be realized, in obedience to the Lord's prayer -- 'Father, may they be one' -- on that day when together we can celebrate in oneness of faith and ministry at the one holy table of the Eucharist."