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Dr Cathy Northrup
The Reverend Doctor Cathy Northrup was born in Ft. Meade, MD, and was raised in a variety of places in the United State and Germany, as her father was in Counter Intelligence with the Army. She graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, with a double major in English and Religion. She graduated from Georgetown Law Center in Washington, DC, and practiced law with the Federal Reserve Board for a number of years before attending Union Theological Seminaryin Richmond, VA. She graduated from Union, and served several churches in North and South Carolina, at the same time obtaining her Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ. Dr. Northrup is currently the Pastor/Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church, Wichita, KS. She is married and has two black Labrador dogs who were rescued from abusive situations. You can contact Dr. Northrup at cnorthrup@firstpresbywichita.org or by phone at (316) 263-0248, ext. 26.
Religion
2008-04-01 11:22:00
Questions about baptism
Question: Must a person be baptized in order to be saved? If a person, who is already baptized in a Christian church, changes to another church, is it necessary for him/her to be re-baptized? If one is not sure whether he/she was baptized, should he/she be baptized again?
Answer: Your questions about baptism are common. Let me address them one at a time. First, in the Presbyterian Church (USA), we believe that one does not need to be baptized to be saved. In itself, baptism is not the saving act. God’s gift of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection are the saving act. Baptism is a sign and symbol of this act, and “a visible sign of God’s invisible grace,” as it has been called. Second, in the Presbyterian Church (USA), one needs only to be baptized once in a Christian church in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe there is one baptism, no matter the mode. We do not re-baptize persons. Third, again, in the Presbyterian Church (USA), we do not re-baptize. We do have a rite for those who want to renew their baptisms called a renewal of baptism. This can be used for those who have been estranged from the church, for a congregation, to mark an occasion of growth in faith, and in pastoral counseling. In a situation where one was not sure whether he or she was baptized, I would want to know more about the facts of that case before making a decision, and I would need to consult with the session of my church and my presbytery.
 
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