Membership & Baptism

Membership

Whether you’re new to WSUMC or the local community, or new to your faith and wanting to explore more about the church, you’re invited to engage in the life of the church using your God-given passions, gifts, and resources. The ministries and offerings of WSUMC are open to everyone, as we seek to make a space for everyone to know God’s love.

If you have found a home at WSUMC, regularly participating in worship and engaging in the life of the ministry, you’re invited to consider joining the church as a professing member. To be a member of Washington Street UMC means affirming your faith in Christ and committing yourself to this local body of Christian believers.

For those considering membership at WSUMC, you’re invited to attend a Pizza with the Pastor session, offered every few months throughout the year. You’ll learn more about the church – our beliefs, history, and practices. You’ll also have a chance to connect with the pastor and learn about how God is calling us into community with one another.

There is no charge to attend, and free child-care is available. The next Pizza with a Pastor event is listed below.

Baptism

Baptism, a sacrament within The United Methodist Church, gives us identity as the people for whom Jesus Christ lived, died, and was resurrected. In baptism, we are incorporated into the community of God’s people, the body of Christ.

Baptism is a special joy in the life of all believers. In the life of infants, it is a reminder of the claim God has on each of our lives, even before we are able to profess the name of Christ for ourselves. Matthew 19:14 reminds us that little children belong in God’s Kingdom, saying: “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Infant baptism represents the baptized child’s inclusion into God’s Kingdom. Because the baptism of a child includes both family and church community involvement, it is appropriate for a child’s baptism to take place in the church where they will be raised and nurtured in their Christian journey. Though not a requirement, we do invite families having children baptized at WSUMC to be members of the congregation.

For children, youth, and adults who are ready to confess their public faith in Christ as Lord, baptism offers an opportunity to be welcomed into the life of the Church with a reminder of God’s love, which has always been present in your life. The United Methodist Church recognizes both infant and adult baptisms from other Christian denominations and therefore does not “re-baptize.”

There are many practices for baptism in the Christian church. At WSUMC, we generally baptize by sprinkling water on the head of the individual. As baptism is the first step for any person, adult or child, to join in the body of Christ, we offer baptisms as part of our normal Sunday worship. Learn more about Sunday worship.

For further details regarding baptism or to schedule a baptism at WSUMC, please fill out the baptism request form below.

Baptism Request Form

Fields marked with an * are required.

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.