Who can administer the sacrament of baptism?

Answer 1

The sacrament of baptism can be administered by absolutely anyone provided they pour water so that it comes into contact with the person being baptized and say, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Even if the person administering baptism does not understand the import of his actions, the baptism is valid, for it is efficacious through the merits of Christ and the minister's intention is supplied by the Church, whose sacrament it is.
This depends upon the policy of the local church and its denomination. Generally, it is a properly ordained pastor who administers baptism. Youth leaders, church elders, etc. are not permitted to baptize in most churches.

Answer 2

The baptism would be valid, and, as a person is baptised as a Christian (and not a Catholic, Anglican, Methodist or any other denomination) then the baptism is valid throughout the Christian Church.

Water need not be applied threefold but one anointing with water with the words "I baptise you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" is sufficient for baptism. In fact in desperate times and places such as during World War II in prisoner of war camps and concentration camps, baptisms were performed in emergencies by another prisoner with water from a muddy puddle. Despite the lack of a font, a priest in robes, a lighted candle, annointing with oil and all the other trappings, this baptism would be just as valid in the eyes of God.

AnswerIn the Catholic Church, in the case of emergency, absolutely anyone of reasonable mind is able to confer a valid baptism, even an atheist, insofar as they use the correct form and matter of the sacrament (words and objects with actions) and have the intention to do what the Church does, which is automatically supplied by virtue of performing the sacrament unless the person baptizing explicitly renounces it. This is outlined in canon 861 §2 of the code of Canon Law. Other Christian groups do not agree with this interpretation of the sacrament, believing that a person cannot convey what he/she himself does not possess (i.e baptism). The Latin Rite Catholic Church, however, considers that the virtue of the sacrament is not affected by the person who baptizes, but by the Holy Spirit and that all water has already been previously sanctified by Christ at His own baptism and thus does not require a specific minister in order for it to be empowered, as this excerpt from Tertullian illustrates:

"All waters, therefore, in virtue of the pristine privilege of their origin, do, after invocation of God, attain the sacramental power of sanctification; for the Spirit immediately supervenes from the heavens, and rests over the waters, sanctifying them from Himself; and being thus sanctified, they imbibe at the same time the power of sanctifying."

Answer 3

In an emergency anyone can baptize another person, assuming they use the proper form (I Baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit [or Holy Ghost]), use the proper matter (clean water), and have the proper intention (to baptize)

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

"The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, any person, even someone not baptized, can baptize, if he has the required intention. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes, and to apply the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation." (CCC 1256)

Answer 4

Roman Catholic AnswerWherever the emergency is. Often these are done in a delivery room when it is obvious that the new born will not survive. It can be done at the scene of car accident, in a hospital, wherever people die. If you are not sure, then the correct wording is "If you are not already baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Answer 5

Anyone who is baptized but when it is not in an emergency, a deacon or a priest is recomended.

Answer 6

Any Christian can baptise in the event of an emergency.

Answer 7

A priest or deacon