Pizza, Baptism Don’t Always Mix

The state Department of Social Services is investigating Anchor Baptist Church of Woburn, Massachusetts, after complaints that underaged children have been baptized by church leaders without parental consent.

About 200 youths from low-income housing projects went to the church because of promises of free pizza, prizes, and games. Once the children arrived, however, they sometimes sat for up to two hours, time that included a sermon ending with an admonition to be baptized. Some children say they were baptized against their will. For example, 12-year-old Hieu Nguyen—whose family is Buddhist—claims he did not know what was happening when he and his 9-year-old brother, Qui, were baptized.

Anchor Baptist senior pastor Chris Pledger told CT that no one was “forced” to do anything and that the promised entertainment took place after the baptisms. He further maintains that parental authorizations were given via permission slips signed to bus children to the church.

“The form goes into an outline of salvation,” Pledger says. “The parental consent is a paragraph at the bottom, giving permission for them to not only get on the bus, but to participate in all aspects of the service.”

Despite the investigation, Pledger maintains that such tactics are proper. “We feel like the Lord would have us to do it this way.”

A police investigation into the matter concluded that church officials had broken no criminal laws by baptizing the youths.

Copyright © 1996 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Last Updated: October 10, 1996

Also in this issue

When God Declares War: The Violence of God can only be understood in the shadow of the Cross.

Cover Story

When God Declares War

College Pays Millions in Taxes

Cult-Watchers: Cult Watchers Adopt Guidelines

Voucher Opponents Vow to Gut Cleveland Program

Beijing U: China Educators Launch First Religion Department

Why Not Gay Marriage?

Muslim Separatists Sign Peace Accord

Ecuadorian Martyrs Story on Stage

Habitat Builds 50,000th Home

Court Voids Holiday Exemption Law

Call to Renewal: Does Call to Renewal Skirt Partisan Politics?

New Film Lionizes Hustler's Flynt

Grace Note

Learning to Love Israel's God

The Gospel Bassoon

The Possibilities of Imperfection

Why We Worship

News

News Briefs: October 28, 1996

Christian Coalition: Christian Coalition Moves Ahead Despite Political Growing Pains

Congress: Clinton Signs Law Backing Heterosexual Marriage

Churches Fight Overseas Child Labor

Ethics and Business:Holding Corporate America Accountable

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from October 28, 1996

Elizabeth Dole’s Fishbowl Faith

The Living Bible Reborn: Tyndale's 50th Anniversary

Bill Moyers's National Bible Study

Indiana Jones and the Gospel Parchments

Our Lifeline

Editorial

Why We Still Need Luther

Editorial

Butt Out

Letters

News

News Briefs: October 28, 1996

View issue

Our Latest

News

Ghana May Elect Its First Muslim President. Its Christian Majority Is Torn.

Church leaders weigh competency and faith background as the West African nation heads to the polls.

Shamanism in Indonesia

Can Christians practice ‘white knowledge’ to heal the sick and exorcize demons?

Shamanism in Japan

Christians in the country view pastors’ benedictions as powerful spiritual mantras.

Shamanism in Taiwan

In a land teeming with ghosts, is there room for the Holy Spirit to work?

Shamanism in Vietnam

Folk religion has shaped believers’ perceptions of God as a genie in a lamp.

Shamanism in the Philippines

Filipinos’ desire to connect with the supernatural shouldn’t be eradicated, but transformed and redirected toward Christ.

Shamanism in South Korea

Why Christians in the country hold onto trees while praying outdoors.

Shamanism in Thailand

When guardian spirits disrupt river baptisms, how can believers respond?

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube