Baptism: back to the future

Currents in Theology and Mission, Oct, 2003 by S. Anita Stauffer

The principal purpose of this article is to honor the rite for Holy Baptism in the Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW, 1978) and those on the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (ILCW) and its Liturgical Texts Committee (LTC) (1) who prepared it, and to consider whether the baptismal rite met the goals set for it. A secondary and minor purpose is to compare the LBW rite with the baptismal rites in the two predecessor books of the LBW--the Service Book and Hymnal (SBH, 1958), which relegated the baptismal rite to its Occasional Services Book (OSB, 1962), and The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH, 1941) as found in its companion Volume The Lutheran Agenda (TLA, n.d.); and, also to a minor degree, with the new provisional materials in Renewing Worship 3: Holy Baptism and Related Rites (RW3, 2002), which is being reviewed and revised even as this is being written.

Toward all these ends, an attempt will be made to evaluate the first principal goal of LBW itself--"To restore to Holy Baptism the liturgical rank and dignity implied by Lutheran theology, and to draw out the baptismal motifs in such acts as the confession of sin and the burial of the dead," (2)--by examining five hallmarks of the LBW rite, which I enumerated in a previous article in Currents: (3) paschal essence, pneumatic nature, corporate understanding, eucharistic context, and ritual character.

From even a cursory examination, it is clear that the LBW took bold new steps in the creation of the rite for Holy Baptism and that RW3 seems thus far to be building partially on LBW baptismal foundations. The two previous rites in OSB and TLA did not provide much foundation for the LBW.

Did the LBW succeed in its goal "To restore to Holy Baptism the liturgical rank and dignity implied by Lutheran theology ..."? And what are the rite's strengths and its weaknesses?

Overall comments

In many ways, the evaluation of LBW can only be done by the pastors who lead its rites and the congregations who participate in them. Hence, I have done a brief random survey of some parish pastors who have used the LBW baptismal rite since it was first published in 1978.

One major difference between the LBW and the two predecessor rites (OSB and TLA) is that they provided separate baptismal rites for infants and adults, while LBW provided just one rite for all ages. RW3 follows in the LBW tradition. The differences in these approaches are highly significant, though they will not be discussed further here. Clergy seem to be in general agreed that the unified rite is preferred.

In previous rites, infant Baptism seemed to be the norm, while in LBW, with its multivalent meanings and richer ceremonial, adult Baptism seems more the norm, even if the respective numbers of candidates do not make that apparent. The LBW rite could well be the culmination of the process of the adult catechumenate.

A second general impression is that in LBW, Holy Baptism is central to the book. There are collects that remind us of our Baptism (e.g., p. 47, # 199, 200); and many Psalm prayers, unfortunately found only in the Ministers Edition (LBW-ME, 1978), have images related to water, the fountain of life, the flow of living water, etc. In a sense the Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness is a form implicitly for the renewal of baptismal vows, as is the recitation of the two commonly used ecumenical creeds. Receiving the body and blood of Christ is a form of renewing our Baptism, and the Paschal Blessing at the conclusion of LBW Morning Prayer (pp. 138-41) is an explicit remembrance of Baptism, as is the address from Romans 6 as the pall is placed on the coffin in the burial rite. Also, confirmation is now properly called "Affirmation of Baptism." In the Vigil of Easter in the LBW-ME, Holy Baptism is central to its understanding and enactment. Thus, it is clear that the second part of LBW;s goal has been met-that the baptismal motifs be emphasized in such rites as confession and burial.

Music must not be forgotten.' TLH had six baptismal hymns, so identified. With SBH, the number was four. LBW contains nine baptismal hymns, with several references to others. The character of the music and texts is different, with LBW hymns being more joyful and less penitential overall than predecessors TLH and SBH. Consider, for example, the triumphant baptismal hymn "We Know that Christ is Raised" (LBW#189), with its rousing Hallelujahs at the conclusion. Also, note that "Even As We Live Each Day" (LBW #350), a clearly baptismal text, is appointed for use in the burial liturgy.

It is interesting that the LBW's baptismal roots are deeper than those in the OSB and TLA--the ILCW dug to roots of the ancient church, not just to those of the sixteenth century. As well, the LBW was prepared in the context of then- contemporary ecumenical bodies, particularly the International Consultation on English Texts (ICET) and the Consultation on Ecumenical Hymnody (CEH). (5)

These are some of the positive comments about the LBW rite for Holy Baptism. On the other hand, the rite has far more potential than has been realized in its twenty-five years of use. One frequently hears, "If only pastors would read the Notes on the Liturgy [in the LBW-ME] and the Manual on the Liturgy.... " (6) While great strides have been made to put Baptism at the center of congregational life, much more pastoral and educational emphasis is needed. Pastors and chairpersons of parish worship committees should be expected to read and follow the guidance of these and other valuable resources. (7)