The Baptismal Covenant is God’s word to us, proclaiming our adoption by grace, and our word to God, promising our response of faith and love. Because baptism initiates us into Christ’s whole Church and not only into a denomination, United Methodists recognize all Christian baptisms and look upon baptism as something that should unite, rather than divide, Christians. 

Persons of any age are suitable candidates for baptisms because Christ’s body, the Church, is a great family that includes persons of all ages. Children and others who have not reached the developmental stage of making decisions for themselves are presented by parents and/or sponsors (godparents) who make the same profession of faith that a candidate would make and who promise to nurture the candidate(s), in their family and in the church family, so that they will come to accept God’s grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life.