An eyewitness firmly in the anti-Leithart camp says this about the panel:

While we were before the panel, the vast majority of questions toward the respondant concerned the efficacy of baptism. Some questioned whether we should read Romans 6 with water baptism in view at all. So from where I sat, it seemed like that was their biggest problem with Leithart.

OK, maybe this person’s memory is entirely faulty.  Because otherwise these people have no business examining anyone’s allegiance or conformity to the Westminster Standards.

Not only is Romans 6 used in the Westminster Standards as a prooftext for baptismal efficacy, but the content of Romans 6 that could have come from nowhere but Romans 6 is reproduced in the content of the Westminster Standards.

Yes, I’m spinning my wheels again, but here we go:

Q. 167. How is baptism to be improved by us?
A. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others; by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein; by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements; by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace; and by endeavoring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names to Christ; and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body.

Look, if someone wants to say they are not denominationally-obligated to agree with the Westminster prooftexts, I don’t want a war.  But making war on those who do agree with the prooftexts in the name of Westminsterian orthodoxy is hypocrisy.  It needs to stop.