Utopian Society 6

Adult Baptism and Colony Membership

Baptism brings people to salvation, transforms their affection and gives them
new will. The outcome of this ritual brings an individual closer to those who
have already experienced this peace. In a human life, this is the moment of
grace where the former actions of their prior lives become irrelevant.

Baptism is a promise to God that should be made voluntarily. The ritual is

simply the beginning of a lifetime of more spiritual minded choices of mutual

good in both practice and immersion. A cultivated choice of

reciprocal forbearance.

Baptism is to be administered only once in a person’s life. The Bible explicitly
teaches believer Baptism. This is the reason why many Christians are
opposed to Infant Baptism. Infant Baptism is a way for a parent to show the
church that their child will be raised Christian. Whereas adult Baptism means
that once a person has found peace and they choose to create a new life.

Baptism is a choice where a person does not remain indifferent or unmoved. 
Once a human has reached this moment they can choose to transform their
devotion to give themselves new will. A person literally and metaphorically
washes away their prior life to begin a new one.

The very meaning of this choice is of moral determination which enables a
lifetime of loving choices. This is a mutual exchange of love that enables
humans to relate to God as he really is. Once Baptized, human choices
become omnipresent with Gods Will.

The overall purpose of Baptism is in many ways to be reborn. Baptism is
perhaps a celebration of understanding of a new way of life to becoming an
adult. A process which brings a person closer to their congregation. The
community who have already found this peace.

Colony members would be Baptized between 20-30. Although living on a
colony means that a person is predisposed to these values. The ritual should
be a milestone in a Christians life. One that is not tied to that moment, but
rather a grace exhibited for the rest of their lives.

A colony is literally a large family farm. At the time of Baptism an adult would
consent to a citizenship by signing a colony membership. The contract
should be signed voluntarily by a baptized adult. The act binds the member
to the colony’s responsibilities and duties.


Signing a colony membership would require that an individual would practice
a communal life as defined in the document. This document would include
articles of incorporation and colony laws and no person would be entitled to
becoming part of the said association without signing it.

If a colony member chooses to leave or is excommunicated, they can not
claim benefit of any church property or any financial compensation. When
signing a membership a person agrees to the renunciation of the right to own
and hold property as an individual.

All those who sign the membership are bound to submit to the colony rules.
In signing this, if problems arise they would be settled within the colony by
internal laws and natural justice and not by civil courts.

This union is essential in order for colony members to maintain their privacy
and sovereignty. Strictly enforcing internal laws with existential judgement
preserves the separation of church and state. Therefore the harmony of the
colony is entirely up to the member’s behavior.

Ideally all issues should be resolved within the colony because when
disputes are removed from the colony this transfers authority to the state.
Therefore, when and if a colony deports from their original doctrine the
matter becomes state rather than church.

Settled principles of religious institutions and property laws, must be applied
to it’s original purpose. Therefore the laws created when the colony is being
formed is very important to it’s future success.

Internal laws should be enforced by colony members with no aid of the state.
This protects the sovereignty of the entire colony. In signing a membership a
person would agree to these internal policies.

The colony would have an organic trust. As stated in the Federal and State
Constitutions, Colonial Charters and other Organic Laws:

Art 34: That a long continuance of the Executive Departments of    

Power or Trust is dangerous to Liberty: a rotation, therefore, in those

departments is one of the best securities of permanent freedom.

A religious colony is legally bound to the documents at the time the land is

purchased. Therefore a fixed organic doctrine allows a colony to make

changes by majority action. This document could be changed in light of new

revelations.

The colony would have an organic doctrine where the property is owned by

the congregation and held in trust by the business. The church property is

not owned by an individual, rather a religious association for the

advancement of the colony as a beneficial use for the organization. 

Decisions regarding all colony matters are managed by this group.

A voluntary enlistment to sign the membership will also provide suitable

penalties for misconduct or failure to abide by the laws of the colony. This

requires a member to live in practice of the communal life set forth in the

document.

If a  person chooses to not abide by the regulations, instructions and

requirements of the colony they would be expelled. However the colony's

natural justice requires that the expelled member also be given the

opportunity to internally defend allegations made against him or her.

Therefore the membership must be viewed as an exesstential colony law. A

membership that relates to property and societal norms as well as the church

constitution. This ensures the proper way to resolve colony disputes

internally.

As a member of the colony a person would be aware of the inevitable

consequences of the refusal to accept the offer made and would have

knowledge of the outcome of unlawful behaviour. Violating norms of the

group would result in leaving the colony. A mutual decision that derives from

the members behaviour.

If a person chooses not to support the colony socially, religiously and in

terms of personal labour they clearly do not want to continue with colony life. 

This would inevitably result in expulsion from the membership and the

colony

If a member were to leave the colony, they do so with no property or financial

support.

Excommunication allows members to remove those who are unfaithful to the

doctrine to ensure that the majority of the colony can ultimately achieve

peace and unity.

Bibliography

Al Maxey, The Lunenburg Letter , 2004

Alvin J. Esau, The Judicial resolution of Church property disputes:  

Canadian and American Models , 2003

The Cumberland Presbyterian church, The Confession of Faith ,1814

Francis Newton Thorpe PH.D., L.LD The Federal and State Constitutions,

Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws,1909

Justa US Supreme Court, Us laws of privacy Cantwell v. Connecticut,

310 U.S. 296 ,1940

Supreme Court of Canada, Walter et al. v. Attorney General of

Alberta et al., 1969