Young Families Ministry at Park Cities Presbyterian Church

Infant Baptism

Photo courtesy of Larry Sengbush

A class for parents on baptism is held at 4:30 pm in the church the Wednesday prior to baptism Sunday. Generally, baptisms are the 3rd Sunday of each month. Please contact Becky McCamey to coordinate a baptism 214-522-8335.

PCPC Baptism Form

"The Directory of Worship" on baptism
(Chapter 56 from The Book of Church Order of the Presbyterian Church in America)

Baptism is to be administered by a minister of Christ, not privately, but in the presence of the congregation under the supervision of the Session.
It is instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a seal of the Covenant of Grace, of our in grafting into Christ, and of our union with Him, of remission of sins, regeneration, adoption and life eternal.

The water represents and signifies both the blood of Christ, which takes away all guilt of sin, original and actual, and the sanctifying virtue of the Spirit of Christ against the dominion of sin, and the corruption of our sinful nature.

The sprinkling and washing of water signifies the cleansing from sin by the blood and for the merit of Christ, together with the mortification of sin, and rising from sin to newness of life, by virtue of the death and resurrection of Christ.

The promises made are to believers and their children. Their children have an interest in the covenant, and right to the seal of it, and to the outward privileges of the church, under the Gospel, no less than the children of Abraham in the time of the Old Testament; the Covenant of Grace, for substance, being the same; and the grace of God and the consolation of believers being more plentiful than before.

Jesus admitted little children into His presence, embracing and blessing them saying, “For such is the kingdom of God.”

Children, by baptism, are solemnly received into the bosom of the visible Church, distinguished from the world and united with believers. All who are baptized in the name of Christ, renounce and are bound to fight against the devil, the world and the flesh.

They are federally holy before baptism, and therefore are they baptized.
The inward grace and virtue of baptism is not tied to the very moment of time when one is baptized—the fruit and power of it reaches to the whole course of life, and outward baptism is not so necessary that without it an infant is in danger of damnation.

By virtue of being children of believing parents they are, because of God’s covenant ordinance, made members of the church, but this not sufficient to make them continue members of the Church. When they have reached the age of discretion, they become subject to obligations of the covenant: faith, repentance and obedience. They then make public confession of their faith in Christ, or become covenant breakers, and subject to the discipline of the Church.

All who are present during baptisms are to look to their own baptism and repent of their sins against their covenant with God, to stir up their faith, to improve and make right use of their baptism, and of the covenant sealed between God and their soul.

For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto Him. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you. Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your house. Acts 2.39; Genesis 17.7; Acts 16.31

For more information and to obtain a copy of Your Baby’s Baptism by Dr. W. Wilson Benton, Jr., Pastor Emeritus, Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, please contact Marzena Dunham 214-224-2560 .