annulment of baptism

bavman

i recieved a pm from a "poster" tonight claiming it is possible to write the society if we were under age when baptized and request our baptism to be "made like it never happened". has anyone ever heard of this or is someone yanking my chain like i percieve they are?

bavman

the_classicist

You never had a real baptism in the first place. Most to all Christian denominations (especially Catholic and Orthodox, and Protestants), believe that for a baptism to be valid, you have to include the Trinitarian formula ("In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit").

You can certainly send a letter and ask them to do this. I've never heard anything "officially."

Elsewhere

Yes, this is true, however the results depends on the elders in you local congregation.

Most elders like to make up the rules as they go along so you never know how they will respond.

I've noticed that lawyers who threaten Slander lawsuits tend to get the best results... don't threaten to sue the WTS or even the local congregation, instead threaten to sue the individual elders. The WTS will not defend them and the elders will show their true cowardice colors.

bavman

elsewhere wrote:

Yes, this is true, however the results depends on the elders in you local congregation.
Most elders like to make up the rules as they go along so you never know how they will respond.
I've noticed that lawyers who threaten Slander lawsuits tend to get the best results... don't threaten to sue the WTS or even the local congregation, instead threaten to sue the individual elders. The WTS will not defend them and the elders will show their true cowardice colors.

the congregation i was baptized in or from i should say is not the same congregation i da'd myself from. i wouldn't send anything more to them because "something could always get lost". i would send any letter right to the society. do you have a link or any written info on the society's true policy on this?

Elsewhere

I don't have a sample off hand, but I'm sure someone has one that can be posted... just wait on Jehover a bit.

AlmostAtheist

Good luck making it stick. Here's a few bits from the CD:

*** w58 8/1 p. 475 Baptism ***

11 Any baptism other than a proper one performed by a dedicated person would be invalid. Also, it would be invalid if the individual did not have a proper understanding at the time of his dedication. This is illustrated to us by Paul when he went to Ephesus and found certain learners. He asked them: ?Did you receive holy spirit when you became believers?? ?They said to him: ?Why, we have never heard whether there is a holy spirit.? And he said: ?In what, then, were you baptized?? They said: ?In John?s baptism.?

Questions from Readers

? What should a congregation committee do in the case of one who has committed acts deserving being put on probation or disfellowshiped and who now claims that in the light of what The Watchtower, August 1, 1958, had to say about valid and invalid baptisms, his baptism was not a valid one?

We well know that Christendom professes to be Jehovah?s organization and in the new covenant with him. It has never renounced that relationship, although it is a false claim and pretense. Yet because of the appearance that Christendom puts on before the world and the demands that it makes according to its boastful claims, Jehovah God will judge Christendom just the same as if she were in actual covenant relationship with him. She will be judged unfaithful and punished accordingly because she has acted hypocritically and brought reproach upon his name.

Likewise, if an individual who has made a profession of dedication to God through Christ and after the baptismal talk submits to water baptism and then continues to associate with the congregation, even though spasmodically, claiming to be a dedicated, baptized member of the congregation and never renouncing that relationship with the congregation, then that individual has to be judged by the congregation according to the appearance of things that is being offered by this person.

bavman

so, what you are saying if i understand this correctly "a.a." is only if an unqualified person gave my talk would my baptism be invalid correct? i don't believe this was the case. anyone else have anything here? the person who pm'd me was hinting at the reason being because i was "15" at the time i was baptized. (please help me jehover)

the_classicist

Any baptism other than a proper one performed by a dedicated person would be invalid.

This is funny, because no one "dedicated themselves to Jehovah" before the JWs and that dedication theology came around. What came first, the chicken or the egg? Or did Jesus return invisibly to baptise Russell?

bavman

yes it is all "spiritual crap" to be sure. however, i am only interested in the "legal" end of things here. anyone?

the_classicist

You will not find any official statements. So what you do is you fire off a letter to WT HQ asking them to do this, explain the defects in the validity (too young, or other reasons). Though I'd wait until tommorow for a few more knowledgeable posters.

annulment of baptism

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