Jesus gave the commission to His Church. That kind of church is the only church that has the authority to baptize. This authority is exercised through the pastor or pastors and missionaries of that church. A minister apart from the local church has no authority to baptize. It Requires A Scriptural Purpose.
Baptism is symbolic and pictures certain Bible truths.
It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It pictures our putting on of Christ. It declares our belief in the Triune God. It is the door way into, or the prerequisite for Church membership.