The church I grew up in did not have sacraments and was pretty informal compared to UMC and I was taught that baptism is a symbolic act. So, maybe this sounds dumb, but could you explain what you mean by the bolded. I guess I'm having trouble seeing it as not being a symbolic act, if it's not a means of salvation or does UMC believe that baptism is necessary for salvation.
I also have trouble with the 2nd bolded. Is infant baptism a way of committing them to being part of God's family? I'm guessing no, because that's baby dedication not infant baptism and would be symbolic. Are you saying that by them being baptized, God is already accepting them to be part of his family? How, when we have free will (choice) to choose to be part of God's family or not and infant's are not in a place to do that?
Even though you already said it was answered, I'll still reply.
The UMC, to the best of my knowledge anyway, does not pin anything regarding salvation to baptism. And as far as the difference between a sacrament and an ordinance (which is the same as saying something is symbolic or not, just in more technical language - an ordinance is symbolic, sacraments are not), it has to do with the idea that God partakes in whatever it is. The UMC only recognizes Baptism and Communion as sacraments - I'm really only more familiar with the way Communion is handled, namely that the UMC adheres to a view often called Anamnetical Real Presence. The point is that, in Communion, Christ is believed to be present, but unlike in other traditions like Catholicism or Lutheranism, the hows and whats of the process are left undefined (there's actually several threads on this topic going on right now in
Wesley's Parish if you want to see this explained better and from other Methodist perspectives).
I just ran by that because like Communion, in Baptism it's also considered that God is the one doing the administering,
through us/
through common means. There is overlap in what dedications and baptisms are (and the Church of the Nazarene, which is of the same Wesleyan tradition Methodism is, does both baptisms and dedications based on what the family wants), in that it is the commitment of the family to raise the child in faith, but the difference between considering baptism a sacrament or not is, much like what you said, God claiming the child into His family, or an illustration of His promises of grace. But better said, it's that the benefits of the baptism are coming from God, and that He can impart grace through them. If you look at the Wikipedia page (yeah, I know) on
Infant baptism there's a section that contrasts the approaches by different churches, with Catholicism, Orthodoxy/other ancient traditions, Lutheranism, Methodism, and Presbyterianism having their own sections.
The real underlying point is that ordinances are symbolic (and often performed because of the obligation laid out in Scriptural examples taking place), whereas sacraments are not
just symbolic. They do symbolize many of the same things and the same Scriptures where examples are given are pointed to, but there's also a belief that there is more to the practice, spiritually, than that. The ways in which it acts spiritually differs from denomination to denomination, though. There is probably some degree of Apostolic Succession belief in there (even though Methodists don't hold to a stringent idea of Succession like Anglicans do - heck, the reason Methodism isn't still part of the Anglican Church is because of the American Methodists breaking Succession so that we'd have ordained clergy in the U.S., since the Church of England wasn't sending any over in the late 1700s and the atmosphere here was actually dangerous for them during, and probably even for some time after, the American Revolution).
A comprehensive FAQ is actually here (this is the one UMC.org links to as well):
Worship - FAQs about Baptism, Membership, and Salvation
Three points (bolded parts mine):
"Q: Does baptism mean that I am saved?
A: No, salvation is a lifelong process during which we must continue to respond to God's grace. Baptism offers the promise that the Holy Spirit will always be working in our lives, but salvation requires our acceptance of that grace, trust in Christ, and ongoing growth in holiness as long as we live.
Q: Do I have to be baptized in order to be saved?
A: No, but baptism is a gift of God's grace to be received as part of the journey of salvation. To refuse to accept baptism is to reject one of the means of grace that God offers us.
Q: May we have our baby dedicated instead of baptized?
A: No. The theological understandings of the two services are very different.
Dedication is a human act -- something we pledge or give to God. Baptism is a divine act,
a pledge and gift God gives to us. Baptism of infants includes the reaffirmation of the vows of the baptismal covenant by parents, sponsors, and the congregation; but chiefly it celebrates what God is doing and will do in the life of the infant. "
That puts it better than I could, not to mention far more succinctly. I have trouble sometimes making my explanations clear, and almost feel like I was talking myself into circles up there.