Nearly two years ago, this magazine published an article titled "With Open Arms," written by the Rev. Gary Nicolosi, rector of St. Bartholomew's Church, Poway, Calif. In the article, Fr. Nicolosi told how St. Bartholomew's practices the policy of "open baptism," meaning people who indicate they want to be baptized receive the sacrament -- no questions asked. That article has attracted some attention. People call TLC and ask for reprints, or they want to know the name of the church where open baptism takes place.

The Rev. Timothy Thomas, rector of St. Nicholas' Church, Pompano Beach, Fla., became so interested in the concept that he tried it himself. After finding out more about the idea from the author of the article, he offered persons the opportunity to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. Six persons accepted the offer.

"I was fascinated by that article," Fr. Thomas said in a telephone interview. "I thought it was right on the mark."

The parish placed ads in Fort Lauderdale's newspaper and erected a banner outside the church inviting persons to be baptized.

"We put the ad on the religion page and got no responses," Fr. Thomas said. "Then we tried it in the sports section and received three inquiries."

That, of course, comes as no surprise to this observer.

The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, Bishop of Southeast Florida, is supportive of the concept. "He wants to experiment with new ways to grow, so this fit perfectly," Fr. Thomas said.

The rector conducted interviews by telephone with each of the persons who wanted to be baptized, then the candidates and their families gathered at the church before the Easter Vigil to receive instruction.

"We heard some very enthusiastic, very touching stories," Fr. Thomas said.

Kim Smith, a recreation therapist at a Miami hospital, who identified herself as a Lutheran, brought her adopted son, Daniel Rainey-Smith, 8, to be baptized. She said she called a Lutheran church for two years in an attempt to have the boy baptized, but never received a return call. A 68-year-old woman who had never been baptized said she saw the sign outside the church and decided to call. One woman had been attending Roman Catholic Mass with her husband. An 8-year-old was brought by her mother and grandmother, both baptized Episcopalians who attend no church.

The concept is unusual for an Episcopal church. There are no classes, no commitments, no attendance or membership requirements, "no strings at all," according to Fr. Thomas.

"We say that we want newcomers to feel welcome, but often when they inquire about baptism for themselves or their children, we respond with rules and requirements."

"We have made it so hard for people, it's no wonder they have given up on the church," Bishop Frade said in an interview with the Miami Herald.

So what happens now? When I contacted Fr. Thomas, it was too soon to know whether any of those baptized would return. The matter of church membership is left to persons who were baptized.

"We're trying to make it clear that we are not trying to get new members," he said. "We'd love it if they want to join our church. But if that doesn't happen, we will embrace them while they are here."

Fr. Thomas is a convert to open baptism. He says it's now the policy of St. Nicholas' Church. He's leaving the invitation to baptism outside the church for a while and already has two children scheduled to be baptized on Pentecost.

This concept will take time to get used to. Each of us knows persons who have gone through extensive preparation periods for baptism, received the sacrament, then disappeared, never to be seen in the church again. So what's the difference?

David Kalvelage, executive editor