The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7-12, 2003:
RECOGNIZES the importance of the work of Baptists throughout the world, individually and collectively, to bring peace and justice to all of the people of God;
ACKNOWLEDGES the tireless efforts of former President Jimmy Carter to bring about peace and justice in the world;
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7-12, 2003:
CELEBRATES with the World Methodist Council the 300th anniversary of the birth of John Wesley, founder of Methodism;
THANKS God for God’s blessings upon, and use of, the Methodist Church for God’s Kingdom work during these three centuries;
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7-12, 2003:
COMMENDS the Christian churches and missions in Africa, especially the Baptist congregations, for their commitment to the Great Commission of Matthew 28, which has resulted in some of the most vibrant and fastest growing Christian communities in the world;
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7-12, 2003:
RECOGNIZES that every human being is of intrinsic worth, being created in the image of God and possessing the possibility of fellowship with the God of the universe;
AFFIRMS that one of the basic rights of each human being is the right to worship openly and freely according to the dictates of one’s own heart;
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7-12, 2003:
NOTES with appreciation the willingness of Korean Baptists to host the 2003 meeting of the General Council of the Baptist World Alliance and looks forward to meeting in Seoul in 2004;
COMMENDS the leadership of USA President George W. Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas as well as the roles of the USA, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia in putting forth “The Road Map to Peace” that provides an opportune moment for all parties involved in the Middle East conflict;