Christian Pure

Presbyterian vs Baptist: Infant Baptism, Elders and Congregations Compared

Christian Pure Team

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Summary

  • Presbyterians baptize believers and the infants of believers, usually by pouring or sprinkling; Baptists baptize only those who profess faith, and only by immersion.
  • Presbyterian churches are governed by elders in connected courts (session, presbytery, General Assembly); each Baptist congregation governs itself, and conventions have no power over it.
  • Presbyterian confessions are Calvinist (Reformed): the PCA holds the Westminster Confession, and the PCUSA holds it among twelve documents in its Book of Confessions. Baptists range from Calvinist (the 1689 London Confession) to Arminian (Free Will Baptists), with the Southern Baptist confession between.
  • The Southern Baptist confession makes a believer’s immersion a condition of membership and the Lord’s Supper; in practice most Southern Baptist churches invite all believers. The PCUSA invites all the baptized to the table and recognizes Baptist baptism.
  • Women pastors divide bodies within each family: the PCUSA ordains women and the PCA does not; American Baptists ordain women and the Southern Baptist Convention does not.

Presbyterians and Baptists are Protestants who share most of their beliefs, and many on both sides are Calvinists. They part over baptism and church government. Presbyterians baptize believers and their infant children, usually by pouring or sprinkling, and are governed by elders in connected courts. Baptists baptize only people who profess faith, by immersion, and each congregation governs itself. Both confess the Trinity, the full authority of the Bible and salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Neither name is…

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Bibliography (Click to show)
  • Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV), via BibleGateway (Acts 2:38-41; Colossians 2:11-12; Romans 6:4). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A38-41%3BColossians+2%3A11-12%3BRomans+6%3A4%3BActs+15%3A6&version=ESV
  • The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), American text, chapters 3, 24, 25, 28, 29 and 31. Orthodox Presbyterian Church. https://www.opc.org/wcf.html
  • The Westminster Confession of Faith with Scripture proofs (proofs for chapter 28). Westminster Theological Seminary. https://wts.edu/wcf
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  • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Book of Order 2025–2027 (Form of Government and Directory for Worship). https://pcusa.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/2025_0724_Book_of_Order_Interactive_2025-2027.pdf
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