Who can baptize whom?

[Zzyzx]

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Even if there was agreement regarding necessity of baptism (which seems elusive in Christendom and among debate members):

1) WHAT exactly must be done and by WHOM?

2) If a parent sprinkles water on the head of their infant (or dunks them in a bathtub) and intones reverently "I baptize thee . . . ." is that sufficient?

3) Or, must the baptism be done by someone with "credentials?" If so, what credentials are required and who is authorized to decide such matters?

4) Can only a licensed preacher do the job, or only an ordained minister, or someone sanctioned by a church for such duties?

5) Does a baptism "count" if it was done by someone from a different Christian church?

6) Can a person who does not know what is going on be baptized?

[cnorman18]

[Replying to post 7 by cnorman18]

Are Methodists like Catholics in that they recognize other denominations baptisms such as the RCC? As long as they use the trinitarian formula?

As far as I've ever heard, yes. The basic rule was, if someone says they've been baptized, then they were.

It is my understanding that the Anglicans, Episcopals, Orthodox and Roman Catholics all recognize each other's baptisms including other Protestant ones such as Methodist and Lutheran. If my understanding is correct, (and please correct me if it is not) the mutual recognition is reciprocal and ecumenical.

That would be correct, at least in my understanding.

One other interesting note here; It is a fact that the faculties -- that is, the validity of ordination -- of Episcopal, aka Anglican, priests are recognized as valid by the Roman Catholic Church. They pretty much have to be; the RCC holds that an ordination is valid if it proceeds in an unbroken line from Peter, who was, of course, "ordained" by Jesus himself -- and since all the first priests and bishops of the Church of England had been Catholic bishops before the intervention of Henry VIII, and could not be defrocked because the change was no fault of their own, Episcopal priests today are recognized as true priests by the RCC. Further, if an Episcopal priest wishes to convert to Roman Catholicism, he is accepted with no further ordination required -- and they often are. And if he is married, he is allowed to remain married.

Therefore, there are, indeed, married priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Strange but true.

[1213]

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Even if there was agreement regarding necessity of baptism (which seems elusive in Christendom and among debate members):

1) WHAT exactly must be done and by WHOM?

2) If a parent sprinkles water on the head of their infant (or dunks them in a bathtub) and intones reverently "I baptize thee . . . ." is that sufficient?

3) Or, must the baptism be done by someone with "credentials?" If so, what credentials are required and who is authorized to decide such matters?

4) Can only a licensed preacher do the job, or only an ordained minister, or someone sanctioned by a church for such duties?

5) Does a baptism "count" if it was done by someone from a different Christian church?

6) Can a person who does not know what is going on be baptized?

I think any person who is disciple of Jesus can baptize. And I think it should be done as told in the Bible.

Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Mat. 28:19-20

There is not mentioned how much water should be involved and there is not said how old person must be. Therefore I think those dont matter much. However Jesus said teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you.. I think that is the important part and should be obeyed. Ordinary water doesnt help much, if person dont drink living water.

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. From where then have you that living water? Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his cattle?" Jesus answered her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
John 4:10-14