The RCA General Synod approved a common agreement on baptism with the Christian Reformed Church in North America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Church of Christ, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Approval of the agreement is one step toward official recognition of each others’ baptisms. (Editor’s note: The CRC approved the statement last week.)

“Through this document, we can discover God’s amazing dream of a common ground where churches for so long have imagined barriers,” says Harold Delhagen, the moderator of the Commission on Christian Unity.

“It offers a comprehensive historical overview and explores the baptismal rites of both the Catholic and Reformed traditions. In addition, the dialogue proposes a common certificate of baptism,” says Doug Fromm, the RCA’s associate for ecumenical relations.

“What really unites us as Christian churches are a common faith in Jesus Christ and a common foundation in baptism,” says Ron Roberson, of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The common agreement document was produced in October during the seventh round of a Catholic-Reformed dialogue that began six years ago.

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Below is the text of the summary of the Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism. Below is a link to the full study paper accompanying the statement

Roman Catholic-Reformed Church dialogue

1. Together we affirm that, by the sacrament of Baptism, a person is truly incorporated into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13 and 27; Ephesians 1:22-23), the church. Baptism establishes the bond of unity existing among all who are part of Christ’s body and is therefore the sacramental basis for our efforts to move towards visible unity.

2. Together we affirm that Baptism is the sacramental gateway into the Christian life, directed toward the fullness of faith and discipleship in Christ.

3. Together we affirm that incorporation into the universal church by baptism is brought about by celebrating the sacrament within a particular Christian community.

4. Together we affirm that Baptism is to be conferred only once, because those who are baptized are decisively incorporated into the Body of Christ.

5. Together we affirm that baptism is a sacrament of the church, enacted in obedience to the mission confided to it by Christ’s own word. For our baptisms to be mutually recognized, water and the scriptural Trinitarian formula “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28: 19-20) must be used in the baptismal rite.

6. Together we affirm that the validity of Baptism depends on its celebration according to the apostolic witness by the church and its authorized ministers.

7. Together we affirm, as a sign of our unity and as a witness to ecumenical commitment, the practice of inviting the presence and, where appropriate, the participation of members of our respective communions in the celebration of Baptism. At the same time, we affirm our responsibility to respect the integrity of the distinct baptismal practices of the communions in which the rite of Baptism is administered.

8. Given our mutual recognition of Baptism, we encourage using baptismal registers in the local church community and, when requested by another church for a pastoral need in the life of an individual, providing written attestations of Baptism, including the liturgical formula used. Such cooperation and mutual accountability honors the dignity of the sacrament of Baptism.

LINK TO FULL PAPER