Settling this once and for all!

[Paul Younan]

Shlama Akhan Chuck,

Usually the baptism of adults is limited to pouring depending on the church and the climate. The baptismal font in most of the parishes is small and unable to accommodate an adult for a full immersion. But you may be able to ask Qasha to see if there are other options. I've not heard of baptisms in the outdoors by the CoE in recent memory, but I could be wrong.

+Shamasha

Hi Paul, may I ask, since the apostles brought baptism [to CoE] -- did they teach that baptism has to be done a certain way? Some Christians today have disputes of full body baptism only VS. "pouring and sprinkling are also acceptable."

Or CoE on its own start baptism by pouring because water was scarce in the region?

DC,

It's really more a matter of who is being baptized, as flowing water is plentiful in Assyria (very green and mountainous, with lots of rivers and streams). 99% of those baptized in the CoE are infants and small children, and to many parents' dismay, the child is fully immersed three times and often gasps and get a lung or two filled with water. The limitations of a particular parish may dictate a pouring for an adult, if the baptismal font is small. More and more modern churches (like some Catholic) are installing jacuzzi-size baptismal fonts so that the adults can be fully immersed if they choose.

The method of immersion vs. pouring is less important in our tradition that the actual prayers and intent.

+Shamasha