How to become a Christian in Australia
By Vinay Koshy, Editor
Becoming a Christian in Australia starts with a personal decision to follow Jesus Christ, followed by the formal initiation path of the denomination you join. Catholics complete RCIA over 6 to 18 months. Anglicans, Lutherans, and Uniting Church members go through confirmation. Baptists and Pentecostals begin with believer's baptism by immersion. Orthodox converts complete a catechumenate before Chrismation. Every major denomination sets its own path.
Last verified: 2026-07-06. Every initiation path in the table below was verified against the denomination's own published page or church order document, linked in the Sources block.
The initiation path in every major Australian denomination
Twelve denominations, twelve formal processes. Each row links to the denomination's directory hub on this site (left column) and to a current primary source describing the process (right column). Timelines are indicative; every path is set at the local level.
| Denomination | Process | Typical timeline | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic | Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), also known as OCIA | 6 to 18 months, culminating at the Easter Vigil | catholic.au — Becoming Catholic |
| Anglican | Baptism (if not previously baptised), then Confirmation by the bishop | Parish-priest instruction timed to the bishop’s next confirmation service | melbourneanglican.org.au — Being a Christian |
| Orthodox | Catechumenate, then Chrismation (plus Baptism if not previously baptised in a trinitarian tradition) | Approximately 6 months minimum | greekorthodox.org.au — Catechism |
| Uniting | Adult Baptism on profession of faith, or Confirmation for adults baptised as infants | Congregation-set; preparation arranged with the local minister | unitingchurchwa.org.au — Baptism and Confirmation |
| Presbyterian | Public profession of faith before a session of elders (adult baptism if not previously baptised) | Session-set; preparation length at the local minister’s discretion | pcv.org.au — Baptism and Admission to Communicant Membership for Adults |
| Baptist | Believer’s baptism by immersion, then congregational membership | Same-day possible; a few weeks typical | bcsant.org.au — Beliefs and Values |
| Pentecostal (ACC) | Salvation, then water baptism by single immersion, then Baptism of the Holy Spirit | Immediate salvation; water baptism scheduled by the local church, Spirit baptism ongoing | acc.org.au — United Constitution |
| Lutheran | Rite of Confirmation (Rite of Holy Baptism for adults where not previously baptised) | A series of confirmation preparation sessions set by the local congregation | stjohnsunley.lca.org.au — Confirmation |
| Churches of Christ | Believers’ Baptism (by immersion) as a public profession of faith in Christ | Congregation-set | cofcaustralia.org.au — Who We Are |
| Seventh-day Adventist | Baptism by immersion following public affirmation of the 13 baptismal vows, prepared by Bible-study series | Preparation length varies by candidate | nnsw.adventist.org.au — About Adventists |
| Salvation Army | Soldiership: signing the Soldier’s Covenant (Articles of War). Adherent status available as a preliminary step | Preparation set by the local corps officer | salvationarmy.org.au — Officers, Soldiers and Adherents |
| Reformed (CRCA) | Public profession of faith following catechism instruction (adult baptism if not previously baptised) | Session-set; adult catechism paced by the local elders | crca.org.au — Church Order |
The 5 steps to becoming a Christian
The standard evangelical framing of the personal decision runs across every Christian tradition. It is the framing used by the Sydney Anglican Diocese-linked evangelism site christianity.net.au and by most parish-level material. In Australia these five steps sit before or alongside the denominational path in the table above:
- Hear the message of Jesus. Read the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John. Attend a service. Talk to a Christian friend about what they believe and why.
- Repent and believe. Recognise sin, personally trust that Jesus died and rose to save you, and turn your life toward following him.
- Confess your faith publicly. Speak with God directly in prayer. Tell a Christian you know. Book a conversation with a local minister.
- Be baptised. The formal sacramental step. In credobaptist denominations you are baptised as part of becoming a Christian. In paedobaptist denominations you either receive baptism as an adult convert or, if baptised as an infant, ratify it through Confirmation.
- Join a local church. Attend one congregation regularly, form relationships, and receive ongoing teaching, communion, and community. Every denomination in this guide holds that Christian life is corporate, not private.
Adult vs infant baptism: the decision that shapes your timeline
Whether the denomination you join practises infant baptism or believer's baptism only determines the shape of your first year as a Christian.
Paedobaptist (infant-baptism) denominations— Catholic, Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Orthodox, Reformed — baptise infants on the parents' and godparents' profession of faith and complete the initiation later through Confirmation (or Chrismation in Orthodoxy). If you were baptised as an infant in one of these traditions and later commit to Christian faith yourself, the path is confirmation, not re-baptism. Where an adult convert has never been baptised, these denominations baptise the adult on their own profession of faith.
Credobaptist (believer's-baptism) denominations — Baptist, Pentecostal, Churches of Christ, Seventh-day Adventist, most Brethren, most Independent — practise baptism only after personal profession of faith, by full immersion. Infant baptism is not recognised as valid because it precedes personal faith. An adult convert to a credobaptist denomination is baptised regardless of any earlier infant ceremony.
Salvation Armyis a distinct case: no water baptism is practised as a ritual. Soldiership enrolment through the Soldier's Covenant stands in place of a sacramental baptism.
The Catholic RCIA / OCIA timeline in detail
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process by which an unbaptised adult becomes a full member of the Catholic Church in Australia. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference describes it as "a process universally restored in the Roman Catholic Church in the 1970s to prepare unbaptised adults for membership in the Church." The current process is set out on catholic.au. The Vatican renamed it OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) in the 2021 English translation; Australian dioceses use both terms interchangeably.
Duration is 6 to 18 months. The process runs in four stages: (1) inquiry, an open period for asking questions and testing your interest; (2) catechumenate, formal preparation after the Rite of Acceptance, typically the longest stage; (3) purification and enlightenment, six weeks during Lent following the Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Lent; (4) mystagogy, ongoing formation after the Easter Vigil. All three sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist — are received together at the Easter Vigil "ideally but not necessarily," per the ACBC. Start inquiry in September or October and you can typically be received at the following Easter Vigil. If you were previously baptised in another Trinitarian denomination, you complete a shorter parallel process called the Rite of Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church.
The Orthodox catechumenate in detail
In the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia — the largest Orthodox jurisdiction on the continent — the initiation process takes at least six months and runs four steps: application, course, participation in a parish community, and the formal ceremony of Baptism and/or Chrism. Their catechism page states plainly: "Give six months time frame. Please do not rush to book any wedding or baptism ceremonies earlier than this." The source is greekorthodox.org.au.
A person under catechesis is called a catechumen (learner); once approved for the formal ceremony, they are called photizomenos (enlightened). Adults not previously baptised in a Trinitarian denomination receive both Baptism and Chrismation. Adults previously baptised in a Trinitarian denomination receive Chrismation only. Practice varies slightly across the other Australian jurisdictions (Antiochian, Serbian, Coptic, Russian, Macedonian, and others); check with the local parish.
Which denomination's path fits you?
Five practical factors matter more than the label:
- Prior background. If you were baptised or raised in a specific tradition, that tradition is the natural starting filter — but not a binding one.
- Theological framework. Sacramental (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran) vs Reformed (Presbyterian, Reformed) vs Evangelical (Baptist, Pentecostal, Churches of Christ, many Independent) vs distinct traditions (Uniting, Salvation Army, Seventh-day Adventist).
- Worship style. Liturgical (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran) vs contemporary (Pentecostal, most Baptist, many Independent) vs plain / hymn-based (Uniting, Presbyterian, Reformed, some Baptist, Churches of Christ, Salvation Army).
- Practical proximity. Under 20 minutes from home matters more for long-term attendance than almost anything else.
- How welcoming the community feels on your first visit. Visit two or three congregations before committing to one initiation path.
See the full Christian denominations in Australia guide for a side-by-side of governance, worship style, sacraments, membership, and official positions on same-sex marriage across all 16 denominations tracked by this directory.
Can you become a Christian without going to church?
Theologically, yes. Every denomination in this guide holds that a person becomes a Christian at the moment of personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, not at the point of first church attendance.
Practically, no. Christian tradition since the New Testament has taught that public confession, baptism, and communal life are constitutive of Christian discipleship. Baptism generally requires a physical minister and a witnessing community. Livestream worship and online congregations exist in Australia (City on a Hill Melbourne, Life Church Brisbane, CityLife Melbourne, Church At Home, and the LCA online worship service) and can bridge the first weeks of engagement for those in remote areas or with mobility or health limits, but every denomination in the table above expects a person becoming a Christian to eventually join a local congregation for baptism and ongoing life together. See the how to find a church guide for online options and the four-step approach to finding a local congregation.
Cost and timeline across denominations
Cost is zero across all twelve denominations. No Australian denomination charges an initiation fee for RCIA, Confirmation, Chrismation, believer's baptism, soldiership, or public profession of faith. Congregations may accept freewill offerings, but the process itself is free.
Timeline is the meaningful variable. The Orthodox catechumenate and Catholic RCIA both require formal preparation over months (6 months minimum Orthodox; 6 to 18 months Catholic). Anglican confirmation preparation runs weeks to months and is timed to the bishop's next confirmation service (typically annual per parish). Lutheran adult confirmation preparation is a series of sessions set by the local congregation. Uniting, Presbyterian, and Reformed public professions of faith are session-set — weeks to months, pending the local minister's approval. Baptist and Churches of Christ believer's baptism can happen the same day as a public profession of faith if the congregation judges the person ready. Pentecostal (ACC) salvation is immediate; water baptism is typically scheduled within weeks. Seventh-day Adventist baptism follows a Bible-study series that varies by candidate. Salvation Army soldiership enrolment follows a preparation set by the corps officer.
What to do once you've decided
The practical next step is to visit a local congregation of the denomination whose initiation path in the table above fits you.
- Browse the directory by suburb and state to find every active congregation in your area across all 16 denominations.
- Browse by denomination if you already know which tradition fits.
- Read the how-to-find guide for the four-step approach and the livestream options.
- Read the full denominations guide for a plain-English comparison of the 16 canonical denominations in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 5 steps to becoming a Christian?
The standard evangelical framing runs: (1) hear the message of Jesus, (2) repent of sin and believe that Jesus died and rose to save you, (3) confess that faith publicly (often through a prayer, the framing used by christianity.net.au), (4) be baptised in water, and (5) join a local church for ongoing discipleship, worship, and mission. In Australia every major denomination adds a formal initiation path on top of that personal decision: RCIA for Catholics, confirmation for Anglicans/Lutherans/Uniting, Chrismation for Orthodox, believer’s baptism by immersion for Baptists/Pentecostals/Churches of Christ/Seventh-day Adventists, soldiership for Salvation Army, public profession of faith for Presbyterian/Reformed. The primary-source table above links to each denomination’s current published process.
How do you officially become a Christian in Australia?
There are two answers depending on which sense of "officially" you mean. Theologically, you become a Christian at the moment of personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and every denomination in this guide holds that position. Institutionally, you become a member of a specific Australian denomination through its formal initiation path: RCIA (Catholic), confirmation by a bishop (Anglican, Lutheran), Chrismation (Orthodox), adult baptism on profession of faith (Uniting), public profession of faith (Presbyterian, Reformed), believer’s baptism by immersion and congregational membership (Baptist, Pentecostal, Churches of Christ, Seventh-day Adventist), or signing the Soldier’s Covenant (Salvation Army). Pick the tradition that best matches your convictions and location, then follow that denomination’s process.
Can I become a Christian without going to church?
Theologically, yes. All twelve denominations in this guide hold that a person becomes a Christian at the point of personal faith in Jesus Christ, not at the point of first attending a church service. Practically, every Christian tradition since the New Testament has taught that public confession, baptism, and communal life are constitutive of Christian discipleship, not optional additions. Baptism generally requires a physical minister and a witnessing community. If distance or health limits attendance, most denominations point converts to a livestream option first and to home-visits or catechumen groups by a local minister for baptism preparation. See the how-to-find-a-church guide for the livestream options.
What is the difference between believer’s baptism and infant baptism?
Believer’s baptism (credobaptism) is baptism after a personal profession of faith, typically as an adult or teenager, by full immersion. Baptist, Pentecostal, Churches of Christ, Seventh-day Adventist, and most independent congregations practise believer’s baptism only. Infant baptism (paedobaptism) is baptism of an infant on the basis of parents’ and godparents’ profession of faith, later confirmed by the person themselves at Confirmation (or its equivalent). Catholic, Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Orthodox, and Reformed churches practise infant baptism. Salvation Army does not practise water baptism at all; soldiership enrolment stands in its place.
How long does RCIA (becoming Catholic) take?
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference states the RCIA process "may last between six to eighteen months, and depends very much on your readiness to make a commitment to living a Christian life within the Church." The process is structured into four stages (inquiry, catechumenate, purification and enlightenment, mystagogy), moves through two ritual milestones (Rite of Acceptance and Rite of Election), and culminates in the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist, "ideally but not necessarily" at the Easter Vigil (the Saturday night before Easter Sunday). If you begin inquiry in September or October, you can typically be baptised at the following Easter Vigil.
Can I be baptised as an adult if I was already baptised as a baby?
No, in the paedobaptist denominations (Catholic, Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Orthodox, Reformed). These denominations recognise a single valid Trinitarian baptism regardless of the person’s age at the time and offer Confirmation as the adult ratification. Yes, in the credobaptist denominations (Baptist, Pentecostal, Churches of Christ, Seventh-day Adventist). These denominations regard infant baptism as invalid because it precedes personal faith, and will baptise an adult convert regardless of any earlier infant ceremony. If you were baptised as an infant and are joining a credobaptist congregation, you should expect to be baptised as an adult.
Sources
- Australian Catholic Bishops Conference — Becoming Catholic: The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. catholic.au
- Anglican Diocese of Melbourne — Being a Christian. melbourneanglican.org.au
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia — Catechism. greekorthodox.org.au/catechism
- Uniting Church in Australia (WA Synod) — Baptism and Confirmation. unitingchurchwa.org.au
- Presbyterian Church of Victoria — Baptism and Admission to Communicant Membership for Adults (Worship book). pcv.org.au (PDF)
- Baptist Churches South Australia and Northern Territory (affiliated with Australian Baptist Ministries) — Beliefs and Values. bcsant.org.au
- Australian Christian Churches — United Constitution (April 2025). acc.org.au (PDF)
- Lutheran Church of Australia (St John's Unley congregation) — Confirmation. stjohnsunley.lca.org.au
- Churches of Christ in Australia — Who We Are. cofcaustralia.org.au
- Seventh-day Adventist Church (NNSW Conference) — About Adventists. nnsw.adventist.org.au
- The Salvation Army Australia — Officers, Soldiers and Adherents. salvationarmy.org.au
- Christian Reformed Churches of Australia — Church Order (August 2018). crca.org.au (PDF)
- christianity.net.au (Sydney Anglican Diocese evangelism site) — How to become a Christian. christianity.net.au
- Australian Church Directory — active parish counts across all 12 denominations named above, as of July 2026.