They have suggested that the churches should consider other methods of baptism. "As the BPS we believe that such deaths (drowning during baptism) are avoidable when churches observe safety precautions when baptising their members or performing their rituals inside water. Such (drowning) cases are a concern to us. Where possible churches should also seek other ways of baptising their members," police spokesperson Christopher Mbulawa said recently. Pastor of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) and former president of the Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) Rev. Rupert Hambira said this week that the time has come for churches that use dams and deep rivers or waters for baptism to engage life guards, or at least someone conversant with swimming.
"The issue of using deep waters to baptise without observing safety principles is constantly raised, but churches continue to ignore the safety of their members when baptising," he said."As a long term solution, I also think the government should come up with a law that will ban baptising in public waters. Baptising in deep public waters does not expose church members only to death. It also exposes them (church members) and members of the public to water borne diseases," he added.Sekate Sekate, the BCC vice president and pastor at the Dutch Reformed Church in Sikwane village said yesterday that churches should begin to take the safety of their members seriously.
