The baptismal covenant is God's initiating word to us, proclaiming our adoption by grace, and our word to God, promising our response of faith and love.

Baptism brings us into union with Christ, with each other, and with the Church in every time and place. (Romans 6:3-11, 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28). Because baptism initiates us into Christ's whole Church and not only into a denomination, United Methodists recognize all Christian baptisms and look upon baptism as something that should unite, rather than divide. Holy baptism is administered once, but may be reaffirmed each time we partake of the Sacrament of Holy Communion or in services of "Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant."

Read more on the church's teaching on baptism (By Water and the Spirit from the General Board of Discipleship site) Additional Resources http://www.gbod.org

Baptism is usually done by sprinkling.