Conversion To Christianity - Conversions/transfers To Another Christian Denomination

Conversions/transfers To Another Christian Denomination

In groups and denominations that practice believer's baptism, all people who declare themselves "being born again" and who have not previously been baptized as a believer are rebaptized, as baptism is not seen as a sacrament, but as a ritual expression of an interior conversion.

Some denominations accept one's baptism performed by another denomination. Nearly always, the baptism must have been with water and performed in the name of the Trinity. Such converts are usually received by a formal rite which normally also includes taking Communion in the denomination.

Converts to Protestantism or transfers to another Protestant denomination are considered to have received a valid baptism if they have been baptized with water and in the name of the Trinity.

In the Catholic, Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, converts also receive the sacrament of Confirmation/Chrismation at reception into the Church, except when they come from a Church about which it is accepted that the sacrament has been administered validly (as in the case of an Eastern Orthodox person converting to Catholicism).

In the Latin Church (the largest branch of the Roman Catholic Church), children who convert after having attained the age of reason, but before confirmation age, are generally not confirmed until they have attained that age. In the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, where infants are chrismated and receive First Communion at baptism, there is no such limitation.