Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part I. Commentaries: -- 1. Baptism: sacrament of the kingdom / Boris Bobrinskoy (Eastern Orthodox) -- 2. The sacrament of holy baptism in the Armenian Apostolic Church / Mesrob Tashjian (Oriental Orthodox) -- 3. The baptismal liturgy of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church / Jacob Kurien (Oriental Orthodox) -- 4. Rite[s] of baptism in the Catholic Church: a theological-pastoral commentary / James F. Puglisi (Catholic) -- 5. The rite of holy baptism in the Lutheran Book of Worship / Jeffrey A. Truscott (Lutheran) -- 6. Baptism in the Anglican Communion / Paul F. Bradshaw (Anglican) -- 7. Baptism in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition / Martha Moore-Keish (Presbyterian) -- 8. The baptism of believers / Paul Fiddes (Baptist) -- 9. Baptism and the Quaker tradition / Janet Scott (Quaker) -- 10. Baptismal practice among North American Mennonites / Rebecca Slough (Mennonite) -- 11. The initiatory rites of the United Methodist Church / Karen B. Westerfield Tucker (Methodist) -- 12. Baptismal understanding and practice in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) / Keith Watkins (Christian Church [Disciples of Christ]) -- 13. The baptismal liturgy of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar / George Mathew (Mar Thoma) -- 14. Baptism in the Uniting Church in Australia: the liturgy, with commentary and reflections / Robert Gribben (United) -- 15. Witness in the waters: baptism and Pentecostal spirituality / Daniel Albrecht (Pentecostal) -- 16. Christian baptism: a Seventh-day Adventist appraisal / Bert Beach and George Reid (Seventh-day Adventist) -- 17. A Salvation Army perspective on baptism: theological understanding and liturgical practice / Earl Robinson (Salvation Army) -- 18. Water baptism in African independent churches: the paradigm of Christ Holy Church International / Thomas Oduro (African instituted churches) -- Part II. Survey Articles: -- 1. Toward mutual recognition of baptism / Paul Meyendorff (Eastern Orthodox) -- 2. Unity in diversity: convergence in the churches' baptismal practices / James F. Puglisi (Catholic) -- 3. Convergence and divergence: baptism today / Karen B. Westerfield Tucker (Methodist) -- Part III. Signs of Recognition: -- 1. Mutual Recognition of Baptism Agreement: Germany -- Introduction / Thomas F. Best -- Christian baptism -- 2. Common Baptismal Certificate: Australia -- Australia's common baptismal certificate: its history and significance / Robert Gribben -- Certificate of baptism -- 3. "Baptismal Practice in an Ecumenical Context" Document: Massachusetts, USA -- The genesis of an ecumenical text / Gordon White -- Baptism: Baptismal practice in an ecumenical context -- Part IV. Special Issues: -- 1. Baptism in a post-"state church" situation: the case of the Church of Sweden / Bo Larsson (Lutheran) -- 2. Interrogating Christian practices: popular religiosity across the ocean / J. Jayakiran Sebastian (United) -- Part V. Baptismal Services: -- 1. Rite of christian initiation (Eastern Orthodox) -- 2. The canon of the sacrament of holy baptism (Oriental Orthodox) -- 3. Text of the mystery of holy baptism (Oriental Orthodox) -- 4. Rite of Christian initiation of adults and rite of baptism for several children (Catholic) -- 5. Holy baptism (Lutheran) -- 6. The baptism of children (Lutheran) -- 7. An Anglican service of baptism and confirmation (Anglican) -- 8. The sacrament of baptism (Presbyterian) -- 9. The baptism of believers (Baptist) -- 10. The rite of baptism (Mennonite) -- 11. The baptismal covenant I (Methodist) -- 12. A representative Disciples rite of Christian baptism (Christian Church [Disciples of Christ]) -- 13. Order of holy baptism and chrismation (Mar Thoma)