PC(USA) offers guidance on baptism, ordination during the pandemic

Document designed to guide sessions, pastors during ‘an evolving situation’

by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service

The sacrament of baptism and services of ordination and installation have been complicated by the pandemic. (Presbyterians Today)

LOUISVILLE — The Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Office of Theology and Worship have together prepared a statement on the sacrament of baptism and services of ordination and/or installment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On baptism

When local authorities and medical experts determine it is reasonably safe to do so, hold baptisms in a suitable outdoor location with a pastor or commissioned pastor, a ruling elder representing the church’s session and the one being baptized, including family, if applicable. Others can take part and bear witness via livestreamed video. Attendees should wear masks, wash hands and check temperatures. Coronavirus tests might also be administered a few days after the service.

Maintain safe distances during the service, only entering into somewhat closer contact for the act of baptism itself. The water can be poured from a vessel at arms-length, which allows for maximum distance between the candidate and the presider. The presentation and welcome of the newly baptized should take place at a distance and/or online.

“It would be best to avoid situations,” the statement says, “where the minister and person are not in the same place at the same time. In a situation where the one being baptized is immunocompromised or has severe underlying health issues, it may be advisable to have someone other than the minister administer the water. But this would be a pastoral exception, not something we would wish to present as a regular practice.”

As for the timing, authors of the statement note the PC(USA)’s Directory for Worship says it’s the session’s responsibility to encourage parents or those exercising parental responsibility to present children for baptism “without undue haste or undue delay.”

“On the ‘undue haste’ side, there is no theological reason to rush baptism, as we don’t believe ‘emergency baptisms’ are necessary for salvation,” the authors state. “On the ‘undue delay’ side, we encourage people to be baptized (or have their children baptized) as soon as they are ready, so they can being the lifelong journey of faith that is baptismal discipleship within the covenant community of the church, as the body of Christ.”

More information is in the first chapter of the Book of Order’s Form of Government and section W-3.04 in the Directory for Worship.

On ordination and installation

This section, the authors note, applies to the ordination and installation of deacons and ruling elders as well as Ministers of Word and Sacrament.

Online installations of people already ordained do not present a problem, since that does not involve the laying on of hands. “However,” the statement says, “we do not yet have clarity on best practices for ordinations during this time of online worship and social distancing.”

Here’s what some presbyteries and sessions are doing:

• Delaying ordination until it is safe for at least a small contingent to gather, sometimes authorizing the person to begin serving temporarily prior to being ordained.
• Having at least one person (ideally more, if safe) present to lay on hands. That person could be a family member who happens to be an ordained ruling or teaching elder.
• Holding an online service of ordination, but planning to follow up as soon as possible with a service that will include the physical laying on of hands
• Sharing a paper or cloth representation of participants’ hands by tracing and mailing them, scanning or taking photographs and printing them, or making participants’ handprints into a stole or shawl.
• Inviting online participants to hold their hands up to the camera.

Statement authors said they encourage the first three options, “when and where it is possible, permissible, and safe to do so.” The fourth and fifth options could be added when following options 2 or 3, they said.

For more information on ordination and installation in the PC(USA), consult Chapter 2 in the Book of Order’s Form of Government and section W-4.04 in the Directory for Worship.