Happy Baptismal Day...to me!

15 years ago today, I was formally received into Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkader, Iowa. The pastor who baptized me...is still my pastor! He's been a great mentor to me as I study for the ministry.

I must say, though -- it was strange being baptized at eleven years old. If it had been done in the Baptist church (in which my parents were members), it would have been the status quo. But Lutherans traditionally baptize infants -- and there I was, probably one of the oldest baptizees ever.

Not that I wasn't welcomed -- to the contrary. The people of Bethany have always been kind, supportive and loving people. But when you come from a believer's baptism tradition, which isn't seen much in Norwegian Northeast Iowa, you tend to get noticed!

But, my vicarage at Luther Memorial has shown me that there are many unbaptized adults. I've witnessed one adult baptism this year, and the new members list shows me that there are a number of adults who were received by baptism in the past few years

So maybe I'm not as odd of a duck in the Lutheran church as I think!