Instruction Class/Catechism

[mike]

Here is Stephen Russell's case for Instruction Class/Catechism in Anabaptism. Listened recently and found it fascinating.



What does everyone think about the necessity and benefits of a lengthy (months long) period of instruction prior to baptism? What is the purpose of the instruction? Does it always accomplish its purpose? How should it be done in order to be effective? Could it also be done after baptism? In light of the fact that it is absent in scripture, is there a basis for it other than the practice of the early church (see Stephen's discussion)? If so, why limit it to six months when apparently it was as much as two years in the early church?

Our church had a baptism last night, and it's interesting to process some of the things that are typically said around baptism, such as statements about those being baptized now being a part of the church of Jesus Christ, or now being a brother or sister in the Lord. A baptism done 4-6 months after a person's actual decision to follow Jesus always seems rather anticlimactic, a bit of a formality long after the main event.

I've sat in many instruction classes and it also can seem like a bit of a formality. The applicants read the text of the lesson, fill in the blanks to answer questions, and then recite the correct answers at the class. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with this. It's good to know the standard answers and the proper doctrines and all of that. Formality isn't all bad. But there should also be something of substantive value in it as well. What is that value? What are we getting for all of this effort (many nights spent by ministers and applicants)?

[JohnH]

Most plain churches put seekers through a year or two of instruction class (once time is accounted for another family with youth in the class going on vacation, etc.)

The question is why children of ethnic members often get no instruction at all. It’s basically optional. Some choose it, some don’t.

[Ernie]

Most plain churches put seekers through a year or two of instruction class (once time is accounted for another family with youth in the class going on vacation, etc.)

Not the case. Most get baptized within 6 months.

The question is why children of ethnic members often get no instruction at all. It’s basically optional. Some choose it, some don’t.

Most children of ethnic members in Plain churches get the same catechism/instruction as non-ethnic folks. I've often felt a little sorry for the non-ethnic folks since the catechism in most Plain churches assumes familiarity with Christianity and Christian-eze.

[mike]

Most plain churches put seekers through a year or two of instruction class (once time is accounted for another family with youth in the class going on vacation, etc.)

The question is why children of ethnic members often get no instruction at all. It’s basically optional. Some choose it, some don’t.

I have not heard of churches that do this. Everyone getting baptized goes through instruction class in our church. There have been instances of people joining the church who were offered the opportunity to go through the class if they wanted to. For example, my son was baptized prior to us joining the church, but he had not gone through such a class, and he was offered the chance to go through the class with a friend of his, and he did. We also had a young couple join who was baptized in another church, but again, since they hadn't gone through such a class, they were offered the opportunity and took it. But in both cases it was voluntary and had nothing to do with whether they were seekers or children of non-ethnic Anabaptists (they weren't).

I don't think it's true that the children of ethnic members get no instruction at all, or that it's optional. At least, I've never heard of that.

[Ernie]

What does everyone think about the necessity and benefits of a lengthy (months long) period of instruction prior to baptism? What is the purpose of the instruction? Does it always accomplish its purpose? How should it be done in order to be effective? Could it also be done after baptism? In light of the fact that it is absent in scripture, is there a basis for it other than the practice of the early church (see Stephen's discussion)? If so, why limit it to six months when apparently it was as much as two years in the early church?

The New Testament precedent is to baptize the same day as a person becomes committed to the Lord. I don't know of any Plain Anabaptists who have this practice, other than maybe a few small, barely Anabaptist fellowships.
(Even if people believe in baptism for the remission of sins, they still normally want to wait at least a few days until all the relatives can be present for the baptism.)

I support baptizing a person whenever they are ready, whether that be the same day or three years later. My thought is that we should not baptize someone before they are ready, but if a person is ready, then go ahead as soon as it is suitable. I don't mind waiting a few days or weeks until family members and friends can be present. I don't believe that a person is lost until they are baptized.

I advocate for three-year-long catechism/discipleship classes with baptism taking place at the beginning, mid-course, or at the end -- whenever the person is ready.

At our church we have Discovery Classes that cycle about every 6 months. (We got this term from Allen Roth.)
People can jump in anytime along the way and there is no expectation that they will get baptized at the end.
We have agnostics, nones, Muslims, people coming to God, people who are almost believers, Evangelicals, Catholics, and others attending our Discovery Classes. It makes for some really interesting discussions.
Once a person is baptized, instruction continues. We have not yet developed a full 3-year curriculum.

[Ernie]

Most plain churches put seekers through a year or two of instruction class (once time is accounted for another family with youth in the class going on vacation, etc.)

The question is why children of ethnic members often get no instruction at all. It’s basically optional. Some choose it, some don’t.

I have not heard of churches that do this. Everyone getting baptized goes through instruction class in our church. There have been instances of people joining the church who were offered the opportunity to go through the class if they wanted to. For example, my son was baptized prior to us joining the church, but he had not gone through such a class, and he was offered the chance to go through the class with a friend of his, and he did. We also had a young couple join who was baptized in another church, but again, since they hadn't gone through such a class, they were offered the opportunity and took it. But in both cases it was voluntary and had nothing to do with whether they were seekers or children of non-ethnic Anabaptists (they weren't).

I don't think it's true that the children of ethnic members get no instruction at all, or that it's optional. At least, I've never heard of that.

This has been my experience as well in the traditional Anabaptist churches.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Most plain churches put seekers through a year or two of instruction class (once time is accounted for another family with youth in the class going on vacation, etc.)

Not the case. Most get baptized within 6 months.

The question is why children of ethnic members often get no instruction at all. It’s basically optional. Some choose it, some don’t.

Most children of ethnic members in Plain churches get the same catechism/instruction as non-ethnic folks. I've often felt a little sorry for the non-ethnic folks since the catechism in most Plain churches assumes familiarity with Christianity and Christian-eze.

Most of the non-ethnic members are familiar with the basics of Christianity. It is our "distinctive" that they are less familiar with.

6 months after deciding to become a member is the expected timeframe. We have a number in our class right now. One good thing about Keystone is that children of members and others go through the same process. As our pastor has sometimes said, there are no Mennonite babies. One only becomes so after deciding with knowledge to do so.

[Ernie]

One good thing about Keystone is that children of members and others go through the same process.

This is normal in conservative Anabaptist churches.

[JohnH]

One good thing about Keystone is that children of members and others go through the same process.

This is normal in conservative Anabaptist churches.

It is not in more conservative settings. Seekers basically get more “thorough” instruction.

I ran into a group (Wengers) trying to remedy this. They held an instruction class for youth who were already members. The youth seemed to be greatly enjoying the class and were enthused to go.

[JohnH]

Most plain churches put seekers through a year or two of instruction class (once time is accounted for another family with youth in the class going on vacation, etc.)

Not the case. Most get baptized within 6 months.

It is possible that myself, my nephew, my brother, my sister in law, and 3 of my friends plus their wives are all outliers. But it seems unlikely.

The time span from asking to be baptised to being complete is generally a year, although for some of us it ended up being 2. Issues like waiting for a class to start, classes being paused, or being asked to repeat a class are relevant.

I am not including extra time for proving which can be quite substantial, sometimes years.

The question is why children of ethnic members often get no instruction at all. It’s basically optional. Some choose it, some don’t.

Most children of ethnic members in Plain churches get the same catechism/instruction as non-ethnic folks. I've often felt a little sorry for the non-ethnic folks since the catechism in most Plain churches assumes familiarity with Christianity and Christian-eze.

My experience in more conservative settings is parents are expected to do the bulk of the instruction. (Non ethnic parents would be a bit less expected to do this.) Less conservative groups like BMA or keystone provide the same instruction for everybody. And of course so do RNoC, lmc, Ohio conference, Evana and so on.