Backordered
By Water and the Spirit, Revised Study Guide

By Water and the Spirit, Revised Study Guide

A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism  
by Gayle Carlton Felton, Mark Stamm
Paperback
Clergy & Laity Discipleship

Available September 2026; Preorder Now!

What does it mean to belong to God through baptism? This practical study guide for By Water and the Spirit explores The United Methodist Church's official teaching on baptism and aims to equip individuals and groups to grow in lifelong discipleship by bringing clarity to common questions about how United Methodists understand and practice baptism.

In this companion resource, Mark Stamm, a leading expert on interpreting the Church's teaching, expands on the work of the late Gayle Carlton Felton and invites individuals and groups to engage deeply with the meaning, practice, and lifelong significance of baptism.

Specifically designed to be a document for practical use rather than a presentation of abstract theology, the guide is organized into six teaching sessions. Each session contains three types of material: the original text of By Water and the Spirit approved by the General Conference, commentary on that text, and suggestions for how to teach about it.

Designed for use in congregations and classrooms alike, this study edition includes:

  • The full official text of By Water and the Spirit
  • Accessible commentary to illuminate key themes and theological insights
  • Practical teaching guidance for pastors, small group leaders, and educators
  • Six structured sessions for group study or personal reflection

Ideal for new member classes, confirmation, small groups, and leadership development; this resource serves as both a teaching tool and a spiritual invitation.

More than a study, this is an opportunity to reclaim baptism as a living reality—one that shapes our identity, grounds our faith, and calls us into a life of discipleship and ministry.

Rediscover the grace given in water and through the Spirit along with what it means to live as Christ's own, today and always.

This study guide includes the full text of By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism, adopted by the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-88177-997-4
Publisher: The Upper Room
Imprint: Discipleship Resources
Publication Date: 09/15/2026
Pages: 80
Dimensions: 10.0000 x 7.0000

The Rev. Gayle Carlton Felton, a clergy member of the North Carolina Annual Conference, was a consultant to the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship and served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Reconciling Congregation Program. She was the author of The Coming of Jesus, This Gift of Water, and By Water and the Spirit.
A retired member of the faculty of Duke Divinity School, she lived in Rougemont, North Carolina, where she continued her work as a writer, consultant, and speaker. Her contributions to the church and to the understanding and interpretation of the sacraments continue to shape and inspire.

Mark W. Stamm is Professor of Christian Worship emeritus at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he served on the faculty from 2000 to 2025. He is a 1995 graduate (Th.D.) of the Boston University School of Theology. He served 46 years under a bishop’s appointment from 1979 (as a local pastor during his senior year as an undergraduate) through his retirement as an elder in full connection from the Horizon Texas Conference in 2025. Before arriving at Perkins, he served as pastor of several local churches, primarily in Pennsylvania. These days, he’s still trying to figure out how retirement and discipleship fit together but finds himself inspired by the Macedonian vision to “come over ... and help us …” (Acts 16:9). Answering that call—to be a helpful retiree—finds him serving in a variety of contexts, both within United Methodism and in ecumenical contexts beyond it, and it led to his accepting the call to revise and update this study guide. He also serves as Historian for The Order of Saint Luke and is an active member in the Society for American Baseball Research. He has been married to his wife Margie, also since 1979, and together, they are the parents of two adult sons.
Photo by Hillsman Stuart Jackson

Featured Products

Related Products

Available Formats

Recommendations For You

Purchased With