Jack has given a good response, with more detail than I will do. I would
answer in simple form (from a New Covenant perspective) as follows:

Query:    When do you perform a believer's baptism? Do you do it immediately
someone says they want it, no matter what age they might be?"

Wanting is irrelevant (as the Borg would say). When a person makes a
credible profession of faith and repentance, they should be baptized. A
person who "wants" baptism but does not have a profession of faith in which
we can reasonably rely should not be baptized.

Of course, there is the rub. What is a "credible" profession of faith?  We
would all agree (I think) that a man who "professed" while intoxicated would
not be a credible professor or entitled to baptism. We would also agree that
other specific examples would not be credible. On the other hand, for my
part, I would not require "proof beyond a reasonable doubt," because no man
can know another man's heart. A credible profession is one made calmly,
rationally, with signs of sincerity and understanding. The one who performs
the baptism must judge whether he can do so under the facts (as John was at
liberty to deny the Pharisees when they came to him for baptism, but without
sincerity).

Query:    Does age matter?

Yes, because age impacts credibility (or, to put it another way, "maturity"
affects credibility). Age does not disqualify, but age must be taken into
account in determining whether a profession is credible. When Little Billy
says he "has asked Jesus into his heart," that is neither a profession of
faith nor a statement of repentance. When Little Susie says "she wants Jesus
to take her to heaven," that is neither a profession of faith nor a
statement of repentance. In the same way, one must take care with those who
are quite elderly, whose advanced age may impact the credibility of a
profession of faith.

However, returning to "youth" as an age issue, when a young child professes
faith and repentance, and manifests understanding, then baptism can be done.
As for me, I am of baptizing children. Dennis Gundersen, by the way, has an
excellent booklet on this subject. It is called "Your Child's Profession of
Faith" and is written to explain to parents why pastors are sometimes very
careful in this area.

Query:    Are baptismal classes Scriptural?

No, in the sense that they are not commanded, commended, or even mentioned
in scripture. Neither are they "unscriptural," as they are not prohibited in
scripture. They are "ascriptural" (or an "indifferent" matter) and their
appropriateness depends on the use made of them. If they are used to deny or
delay baptism to persons making credible professions of faith, then I would
say they are improper. If they are used to inculcate rote responses in
people so that they can "answer the questions right" even if unconverted,
then they are certainly improper. If, however, they are used to test the
credibility of a profession of faith, by making certain the person is acting
calmly, rationally, and sincerely with knowledge, then they can be of great
help.

It is for the elders of the church to decide whether to have them and, I
might add, whether to make them mandatory. My best option would be to do
them when I think needed but not when I am confronted with a credible
profession of faith. Since people are not all the same, I see no reason to
apply the same procedures to each person alike.

James W. Allen
jallen@...