Friends believe in inner transformation and spiritual conversion, through the Holy Spirit, to a life based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. This is the spiritual baptism to which Friends aspire.
In keeping with the focus on substance rather than ritual that marks Friends' faith and practice, Friends do not practise water baptism. If, however, any individual Friend is led to confirm his or her feeling of having reached the goal of inward spiritual grace by embracing water baptism as an outward, visible sign, he or she may do so. This is in keeping with the universal, inclusive nature of Quakerism.
We should be vigilant that we do not replace a rejection of empty ritualism with a rigid rejection of all who practise forms of ceremony or ritual.
Joan Browne
Clerk
Kingston Monthly Meeting, Jamaica Yearly Meeting
This page is moderated by Johan Maurer as part of the "Evangelism and the Friends Testimonies" project, supported during the academic year 2003-04 by the Ferguson Quaker Fellowship program of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. Johan has a minute of service from Reedwood Friends Church.
