Editing Infant baptism (section)

==== Methodist ====
[[File:First_century_of_national_existence;_the_United_States_as_they_were_and_are.._(1873)_(14764282955).jpg|thumb|Presbyterian-Congregational Alliance (1770–1852)]]
According to Campbell (1999), [[Methodism|Methodist churches]] affirm infant baptism, rooted in the [[Twenty-five Articles|seventeenth Article of Religion]]’s instruction to retain “the baptism of young children” (p. 107). Methodists have historically defended this practice against critics of infant baptism, grounding it in New Testament accounts of household baptisms ([[Acts 16]]:15, 33), Jesus’ embrace of children (e.g., [[Matthew 19]]:13–15), and the belief that all, including infants, require inclusion in the church’s covenantal fellowship.<ref>Campbell, T. A. (1999). ''Methodist doctrine: The essentials''. Abingdon Press. (pp. 73-133)</ref> For Methodists, infant baptism signifies “an acceptance of the prevenient grace of God and as a confession on the part of the church of its responsibility for children in general and for every child in particular.”<ref>{{cite book |title=Methodist Review, Volume 101 |date=1918 |publisher=G. Lane & P. B. Sandford |page=464 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="MannsMeyer19842">{{cite book |last1=Manns |first1=Peter |title=Luther's Ecumenical Significance: An Interconfessional Consultation |last2=Meyer |first2=Harding |date=1984 |publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=978-0-8006-1747-9 |page=141 |language=English |quote=When modern Methodists expound infant baptism, they think first of " prevenient grace", for which infant baptism is said to be an effective, or at least a useful, sign.}}</ref> Methodist doctrine further emphasizes that justifying grace, essential for salvation, is received after repentance and a personal commitment to Christ as Savior.<ref name="UMC GBGM-Grace2">{{cite web |title=God's Preparing, Accepting, and Sustaining Grace |url=http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/walk.stm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109013416/http://gbgm-umc.org/UMW/Wesley/walk.stm |archive-date=9 January 2008 |access-date=2 August 2007 |publisher=The United Methodist Church GBGM}}</ref><ref name="FMC20082">{{cite web |date=3 December 2008 |title=Baptism and Dedication |url=https://www.fmcic.ca/baptism-and-dedication/ |publisher=[[Free Methodist Church]] |quote=When they baptize babies, pastors should make sure that their prayers include clear requests that God will bring the children to a personal faith that "owns" what the parents are promising at a time when the children (who "belong" from day one) cannot act for themselves. And when they dedicate children, pastors should make sure that their prayers include clear gratitude to God for the fact that he is already at work in the life of that child, who already "belongs" in the Christian community.  Here’s what must be stressed: whether at the time of baptism (in the adult baptism tradition) or at the time of confirmation when the vows made earlier by the parents are personally "owned" (in the infant baptism tradition), it is faith in Jesus (dependent trust, not mere cognitive affirmation) that is crucial. Paul goes so far as to say that without faith and obedience, the old rite of circumcision has no value (Romans 2:25). The same is true of baptism. With either rite, clear evangelistic follow-through is crucial.}}</ref> While many Methodist denominations, such as the [[Free Methodist Church]] and [[Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection]], practice infant baptism for families who request it, they also offer a rite of child dedication for those who prefer to delay baptism until their child can consciously profess faith.<ref name="FMC20082" /><ref name="AWMC20142">{{cite book |title=The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Original Allegheny Conference) |publisher=[[Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection]] |year=2014 |location=[[Salem, Ohio|Salem]] |pages=140–146 |language=en}}</ref>