The Church of the Brethren affirms Matthew 28:19 as the dominical command for Trinitarian baptism. Believers are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, confessing their faith in the Triune God. The Brethren practice baptism by immersion for believers who have confessed faith in Christ and the Trinity.

The baptismal formula is understood as expressing the believer's entry into relationship with the Triune God and incorporation into the body of Christ. The Trinitarian invocation is seen as grounding the baptized Christian in the full covenant community of the Church and calling them to follow Jesus in discipleship under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.