ANTICIPATES with joy the forthcoming Centenary Congress of the Baptist World Alliance in Birmingham, England, July 2005;
THANKS God for the many blessings experienced by the world Baptist family over the l00 years of the life and mission of the Baptist World Alliance;
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Seoul, South Korea, July 28-31, 2004:
REAFFIRMS its strong conviction that salvation is offered to the world through Jesus Christ alone by means of his life, death and resurrection and continuing mission;
EMPHASISES the crucial importance of personal conversion through the work of the Holy Spirit issuing in repentance, faith in Christ as saviour, baptism, incorporation into the church and the life of discipleship;
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Seoul, South Korea, July 28-31, 2004:
COMMENDS the Micah network (Micah 6.8) in their desire to strengthen the capacity of aid and development agencies such as Baptist World Aid to make a biblically-shaped response to the needs of the poor and oppressed in line with the World Evangelical Alliance resolution of 2001 to support the UN initiative to halve current levels of world poverty by 2015;
NOTES that the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Indianapolis in June 2004 voted to approve a recommendation from its Executive Committee to withdraw from the family of the Baptist World Alliance;
ACKNOWLEDGES with gratitude the enormous contribution made by the Southern Baptist Convention in the formation of the Baptist World Alliance 100 years ago and in the continued development and effectiveness of the Baptist World Alliance since its inception;
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Seoul, South Korea, July 28-31, 2004:
COMMENDS the Korean Baptist Convention for the faithful witness to the Gospel both within South Korea and in its mission work throughout the world.
NOTES with concern the continued division of families and communities in the north and south of Korea;
NOTES with appreciation the work of Korean Baptists in hosting this 2004 meeting of the General Council of the Baptist World Alliance;
OFFERS sincere thanks to the Baptist Convention of South Korea, its President, C. Y. Choi and General Secretary, S. S. Hong for their invitation to meet in Seoul;