Children

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BWA General Council Resolution 2002.3

The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Seville, July 8 – 13, 2002:

AFFIRMS that every child, from the time of conception, is of inestimable worth, having been created in the image of God, and possessing at an appropriate age the capacity to experience fellowship with God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;

LAMENTS that a large percentage of the world’s children suffer various forms of violence, economic privation, hunger and lack of access to educational and health facilities;

DEPLORES that many children are sold into slavery, forced into prostitution, illegal child labor and other criminal activities, exploited for pornography, victimized by sexual abuse and subjected to sexually transmitted diseases;

REAFFIRMS that the basic unit of society is the God-ordained institution of the family, consisting of persons related by blood, adoption or traditional marriage, and is the entity entrusted with protecting and nurturing children;

RECOGNIZES that children, deprived of the support of a healthy family, must receive care through entities other than the family; and

URGES that the nations and peoples of the world, particularly believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, enact and support policies ending abusive practices against children, strengthening the family, and supporting public and private programs and agencies committed to the principles presented in this resolution.

Citations

Original Source Bibliography: Lotz, Denton, editor. Baptist World Alliance 2002 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory. Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2002.

Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Denton Lotz, ed., Baptist World Alliance 2002 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory (Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2002), p. 93.

Online Document Full Citation: BWA General Council Resolution 2002.3 Children; https://baptistworld.org/resolutions.

In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA General Council Resolution 2002.3).

For more information about Baptist World Alliance Resolutions, visit BaptistWorld.org/resolutions.

Since its formation in 1905, the Baptist World Alliance has networked the global Baptist family to impact the world for Christ with a commitment to strengthen worship, fellowship and unity; lead in mission and evangelism; respond to people in need through aid, relief, and community development; defend religious freedom, human rights, and justice; and advance theological reflection and leadership development.