Abstract:
What makes baptismal waters wetter? Is there a way to remember our baptisms, regardless of when it took place, that is meaningful and invites people to be re-membered into a particular community? Does it actually have to do with baptism at all, or is it strictly a matter of formation and discipleship? What is the relationship between baptism as sacrament, and our communal practices? Questions similar to these, and others, have come up on the Vineyard Scholars discussion forum, contributing to the larger discussion around sacramentality and Vineyard worship. The goal of this paper is to reflect on the questions and responses found in the SVS discussion forum in light of sources referenced in the discussion threads such as early church sources, Augustine, Luther and Calvin—in order to offer some framing questions for today. This paper is not intended to provide answers so much as to participate in a larger dialogue in the hope of prompting deeper engagement with Church tradition and Vineyard distinctives.
The full paper is attached to this post.
