Encore Post: Because God calls the church to organize its work in an orderly fashion, the church has designated those God has called to bring his word to them to be the usual baptizer. Their pastor represents God, who is actually the one who baptizes, and represents them, acting on their behalf. They welcome new Christians into the church and into the congregation to which they now belong. Pastors maintain a record, so there is assurance, even years later, that they were baptize.
Since the days of the apostles, pastors have baptized new Christians. We see this in the book of Acts, in the letters of St. Paul and in the writings of the earliest leaders of the church. Pastors need to know whom God has placed in their care. When they baptise, they know the new Christian bears the cross of Christ and is in their flock. They will faithfully nourish them and hand their care to the next pastor when their ministry in a place comes to an end. Finally, when pastors baptize a new Christian in a regular service of a congregation, those believers brothers and sisters get to know them. They recognize their fellow laborers in Christ, with whom they live, grow and will likely die.
When an emergency threatens the life of someone not baptized and a person is brought to its waters without a pastor or away from worship, their pastor will announce that baptism in church with a rite of thanksgiving, so their congregation can rejoice that God has found his lost sheep and brought him or her home.
See also: The Many Meanings of Ministry | Jesus Establishes the Holy Ministry | Pastors are Called by God | Preach the Word | What is Absolution?
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