The "Who Was Baptized In The Lancaster YWCA Pool? Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in my local newspaper about baptism.  Lisa Matts was 16 years old when she began life-guarding at the pool in the Lancaster YWCA at East Orange and Lime Streets.  From 1980 to 1984 she oversaw lap swimming, swim lessons, water aerobics and baptisms.  Baptism is not something you think of when you're going to a swimming pool, says Lisa.  Baptisms occurred at the YWCA  pool about four times a year.  Men in suits removed their coats and shoes.  Women in long dresses took off their shoes and waded into the water.  A minister prayed and then baptized the candidates...four at a time.  The individuals stood completely upright in the shallow end of the pool.  The officiant assisted with a backward motion, completely submerging the individuals and helping them back up to a full upright position.  It is believed that each person was dunked one time.  Present and former officials at the YWCA confirm the baptisms occurred, but do not know which church was involved.  Adult baptism by immersion (or submersion) can be accomplished in any body of water and by many different churches.  Baptists, Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists and others regularly perform immersion baptisms, often indoors.  Jehovah's Witnesses occasionally use swimming pools.  On the other hand, the Ashley Tabernacle Church of God in Christ baptizes adults in the Susquehanna River each August at Columbia, PA.  The Scribbler has asked Steven Bolt, professor of history and Anabaptist studies at Elizabethtown College, for his take on the YWCA baptisms.  He believes it is unlikely the baptized were members of Plain churches.  Old Order Mennonites, Amish and Beachy Amish do not baptize by immersion.  However, several other Plain groups do practice baptism by trine immersion (that is, three times under the water).  They are the Old Order River Brethren, the Old German Baptist Brethren, and  the Dunkard Brethren.  All three groups have only a few members in Lancaster county, and only the River Brethren baptize in still water.  Nolt speculates they would prefer to use a pond belonging to a member.  Other Plain-dressing groups that practice immersion baptism are the so-called Charity Churches.  They include many former Mennonites who dress plainly.  A pool would be acceptable to them, he says.  There are two Charity Churches in Lancaster - one on South Groffdale Road near Route 23 and the other in Ephrata.  Non-plain Mennonites also might choose immersion, but often at  "a place of special significance" for the person being baptized.  That would more likely be Black Rock retreat in southern Lancaster County rather than the YWCA pool.  Most Church of the Brethren and Brethren in Christ congregations now have indoor baptisteries large enough for immersion in their church buildings, or they use an outdoor pool or pond.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.