What to Expect at Baptism
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Backgrounder
The watershed moment in a marriage for many UBM's is when your partner makes the leap from "interested study" to "baptism". You have every right to wonder how this commitment will change your relationship. You may not be able to stop your partner from taking this step. If you know it is coming, there are things you can do to prepare. So here's a description of the JW baptism, followed with some hints and tips on how you can stay involved with your partner as they work through this process.

When does baptism happen?
I believe a candidate will not be considered for baptism until they have completed one full round of study with an introductory book, usually six months. Baptism may be delayed if the candidate is not ready to make the commitment or if they admit to engaging in a sin listed in the 104 baptism questions. Smoking or living with a common-law partner are common prohibitors.

Where do they baptize people?
Usually baptisms occur at a larger assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses, that happen several times throughout the year. JW's immerse. If the assembly is at a purpose-built facility, there will be a baptismal pool somewhere on the grounds. The pool here in Edmonton is to the left of the stage. At the big district assembly, a temporary inflatable pool is set up in a corner of the rented auditorium.

Why the pressure to baptize?
The Watchtower is all about numbers. They count the hours that the study leader spends with your partner. They count the number of baptisms in a year. The study leader will expect after your partner has completed a book they will be ready for the next step. The study leader may begin to wonder privately if their time is being wasted. It takes an average of 40,000 hours of field service to bring in a single new recruit. A study leader who brings their study to baptism has achieved a rare success, and the baptism bring them a lot of recognition at the hall.

Who is putting the pressure on?
In the heirarchal Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, everyone feels the pressure to perform. Headquarters asks the Circuit Overseers why the numbers aren't going up. Circuit Overseers put pressure on the Presiding Overseers, who in turn ask the elders to check on the field service performance of the members. Everything is counted from meeting attendance, hours of field service, magazines placed, number of studies, and baptisms achieved.

The committee in charge of the yearly assembly will be busy collecting numbers of potential baptisms from the local kingdom halls. They need to know how many rows of seating to rope off at the front of the auditorium. The elders will be following up with the study leaders, and will likely want some firm numbers to give to the committee prior to assembly day.

The Baptismal Questions
There are 104 questions that all baptismal candidates must answer to an elder prior to scheduling their baptism. All these questions are listed on the back of "Organized to do Jehovah's Will" (c)WTBTS 2005, page 183 to 215.
Here's a link to sample questions. The "Organized to do Jehovah's Will" book resembles the membership books that I've seen other churches produce. You could say that the baptism is an initiation in to the organization of the Jehovah's Witnesses as much as a dedication to God.

Part 1, Elementary Bible Teachings (35 questions)
Part 2, Jehovah's Righteous Requirements (37 questions)
Part 3, Jehovah's Arrangement of Things (32 questions)

By comparison, the Nicene Creed, which is the core doctrine of all Orthodox Christian churches, consists of three paragraphs, all to do with the nature of God.

By comparison, New Life Community Church asks five questions at the time of baptism, to confirm their repentance and dedication to God.

The following questions are asked on the day of baptism, and the candidates are to answer in the positive in a loud, clear voice (p. 215):
"On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?"
"Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?"

The Day of Baptism
Baptisms are usually done midday as part of a larger gathering, or assembly, conducted several times a year. The baptismal candidates have reserved seating at the very front of the auditorium. They have along a modest bathing suit and towel, which they keep with them in a bag under their chair. Just before the break for lunch, the speaker will address the candidates with a short talk, have them stand, and ask the two questions outlined above. After their affirmative answer, the candidates will file out of the auditorium to applause. Everyone breaks for lunch.

The candidates change in to their swimming attire. Those who are interested will gather at a discreet distance from the tank or pool to watch. If there are many baptisms to perform, there may be several elders in the pool to help to help with the dunking. Several may be dunked at once. There may be modest applause. The candidates line up and are dunked in turn, then go off to change.

Usually the newly baptized candidate will hook up with their study leader at lunch, where they will receive warm congradulations all around.

Compared to a Baptist service, the JW experience is rather impersonal. As usual with the Watchtower society, it's not about the individual but the numbers. I can guarantee the people in the assembly will be counting heads and comparing them to last year's. Somewhere during the meeting attendance and the number of baptisms will be announced.

I recommend
- Prior to baptism, ask questions about the sample questions I have posed. Is your partner 100% in agreement with them? If not, ask if they are really ready to take the plunge.

- Challenge your partner's assessment of you. Do they consider you worldly, and if so, someone to be avoided? How do they plan on incorporating "avoiding the world" while married to you?

- Ask to attend the baptism. If your partner challenges your motive, challenge them right back. They cannot assume you have no interest in the spiritual side of their life. This will set you up well for years ahead by making friends with the cult personality.

- It is acceptable to bring a camera to the baptism, and to stand at a discreet distance when the baptism is performed. Congradulate your partner on this momentous step, even if your guts are sinking. It's a big deal to your partner, and you want to steal some of the thunder from the study leader.

- If one of your partner's motives for joining is the abundance of attention, you will have an opportunity shortly afterwards to help your partner question their decision. Attention quickly shifts away from the believer after baptism. The study leader can no longer count their time. Your partner will suddenly be expected to maintain all obligations with very little reward or support. This is a rude shock for many recruits. Ask your partner if this is what they signed up for.