May a lay person baptize someone?

Question

A gentleman I know told me he had baptized his step grandaughter; he is a layperson. Would this be the same as being baptized by a minister/preacher?

Answer 1

Yes

A baptized Christian may baptize another person that has repented and accepted Christ.

There is no difference.

Answer 2

Only in an emergency.

1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize, by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation. - Catechism of the Catholic Church

Answer 3

Yes. It is the same. The Bible tells us that we are *all* priests in Jesus' service if we are believers. Think about all of the places in the world where no one has a Masters of theology or similar and every minister is just someone who feels called by God. Should people avoid being baptized in those places and travel to a country where a minister has been ordained? Of course not. Did John the Baptist have special qualifications outside of the Lord's calling on his life? Obviously he wasn't ordained. If someone got saved in my home, for example, and immediately wanted to be baptized, I would be happy to help them with that --- even if it was just in my bathtub! :)

Answer 4

The can't be baptized themselves because their body is in the ground. Why didn't God create some way that they could be baptized without their physical body? Seems to me like baptism by proxy works just fine. Why can someone on earth be baptized for them? For the same reason Jesus can suffer and die for us. The entire gospel is reliant on a proxy work. Does the spirit literally posses the body of that living surrogate during the baptism? No, absolutely not, no. The person is not a surrogate they are a proxy, literally the words of the prayer are "Brother (or Sister) (insert name) I baptize you for and in behalf of (dead persons name) who is dead..."

Answer 5

Yes, a lay person who is a Christian may baptize someone. Baptism is intended as a public proclamation of faith, but it does not require ordination in some protestant churches. This is one of those "gray area" places where Christians are not necessarily going to agree based on denominational differences.

Answer 6

John the Baptist was not a minister, just a believer and a follower...though he did preaching ..he is not named as a minister/preacher ...I think that is sufficient enough for anyone to Baptize another believer. Those who believe are all ministers of God.

Answer 7

In the Catholic Church, any person can baptize in extraordinary circumstances. They don't even have to be Christian. Three things are required:

1. They must pour water over the person
2. They must say "I baptize you (or thee) in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost."
3. They must intend what the Church intends in the sacrament (i.e. they must be sincere in their intent).

Of course, this is only for emergencies. Normally a priest would do it. The ritual is very nice. There are some very inspiring Bible readings for it.

Answer 8

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ L.D.S. A man has have to have the authority given through the priesthood to baptize. However most men have this priesthood then all you need is the Bishops approval to baptize someone.

Answer 9

I recommend looking up the word baptism in whatever writings you consider sacred. As a protestant, I use a NIV Bible, and a concordance will do just that. Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells his followers to go into all the world and baptise. If you generalise his instructions to any of his followers...

If you are a Mormon, Jew, Catholic or other faith that too does baptism, you'll need to consult your respective teachings.

Answer 10

I do not see why not. John the Baptist , baptized Jesus and Paul baptized the Ethiopian. I do not believe that they held any legal credentials they were just Christians like you and me.