Where Do You Locate the Baptistry?

We are doing a capital campaign at Hillcrest in Abilene where I am on staff. The goal is to raise money for some critical maintenance and remodeling to our building. One of the issues is that our baptistry is in bad shape. It doesn't hold water long, it’s hard to keep heated, and it has the potential to collapse at any time. Especially since we have started having four or five people in with the one being baptized—family and/or friends.  

So it will be redone.  

Like most churches of Christ of a certain age, the baptistry has always been front and center behind the pulpit. Well, except at Hillcrest we don't have a pulpit. And our baptistry is high, so if you are short, most of the people can't really see what is happening in a baptism unless they watch the video screens. And we have nice baptistry doors that are shut most of the time, so unless you know what is there, it is just decoration. Visitors certainly don't know what is behind the pretty sliding doors.

But recently, many churches have started putting their baptistry in the foyer, or on the floor right by the pulpit. I really like it up front by the pulpit, but we are not doing an auditorium remodel so that is not going to happen. I think we are going to actually put ours in the lobby.  

But all of this started me thinking: where should you put the baptistry? So here are a few thoughts.

Optics matter. I understand having baptisms at the front and center. It reminds our members (who know what is behind the doors) of the importance of being born again. It doesn't really say anything to visitors, though. But it does in the lobby. Everyone will see the baptistry. Some visitors may even want to know what it is and why it is right out in the open. Of course, the greatest optic is to witness people giving their life to Jesus, no matter where the water is located.

People. I like baptisms where the family is there. We have close friends and family in the baptistry surrounding the person being baptized. We crowd the stairs leading down into the baptistry. But you can't get many in there. So how great will it be that we will be able to get several around them in the water, and lots more right up close to surround the new brother or sister? Put up a camera, and the whole assembly can see it. But those closest to the new Christian will have been right there with them.

And of course, the “where” to put the baptistry really isn't that big of a deal. We do baptize lots of people in front of our whole church. And we baptize many outside of the assembly. We will always find water. A pool. A hot tub. A stock tank. A cattle trough. We will find water.

But the real point is what is happening. Born again. Saved. Giving lives to Jesus. That is what matters.  

That's the whole point. Not the “where.”