On Sabbath evening, Fulcrum7 ran a news item about an atypical ‘baptism’ that was conducted at the Houston International SDA Church.
The Houston church pastor issued a public apology today, with plans to administer biblical immersion baptism this coming Sabbath.
“In response to a request for re-baptism by one of our very elderly members that was conducted at Houston International SDA Church on June 17th, 2023, I wish to offer my sincere and unreserved apologies for a poor judgment call I made in the moment of a potential medical emergency that could have occurred in the baptismal pool.
In preparing for the baptismal service with the elders, deaconesses, and deacons of our church, I had full intention of an immersion baptism – that is, going under the water, as taught in the Scriptures (Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 2:38; 16:30-33; 22:16; Rom. 6:1-6; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12, 13), modelled by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 3: 13-17), and affirmed in our Church Manual (Seventh Day Adventist, Church Manual, 2022 edition, pg 50. See also, “Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh day Adventists” Chapter 15)
When our dear brother (along with his wife) got into the water, he began having great difficulty with being immersed. Due to my knowledge of his multiple medical conditions along with the fact that I knew that this was not a baptism into membership but rather a request of recommitment to his faith, I made a quick judgement call, in the moment, and poured as much water as I could, with my hands, over him as a symbolic gesture. Then, I proceeded to rebaptize his wife by immersion. In hindsight, it was a poor judgement call that has conveyed the wrong impression to anyone who would have not been present in the congregation, concerning the Biblical theology of baptism by immersion.
This Sabbath, July 1, 2023, I will revisit this request for re-baptism/re-commitment of our dear and beloved brother. I will be securing a chair (name) and requesting the services of two/three deacons in the baptismal pool to help mitigate any unforeseen possibility of a medical emergency during the baptismal process. I sincerely request your prayers.
I again fully apologize for the faulty impression and negative attention this has brought on our Church and the Texas conference of SDA regarding the biblical theology of baptism and take full responsibility for a poor judgement call regardless of how well-intentioned it was.
Houston, June 26, 2003
Denton W Rhone
Pastor, Houston International SDA church”
Medical emergencies are usually responded to by a call to 911. Nevertheless . . .
Heaven rejoices when a sinner repents and chooses to follow the Lord (Luke 15:7). This is a brand plucked from the burning (Zechariah 3:2). May the Lord protect our brother from the evil one and may Christ’s joy remain in him (John 15:11).
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“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).