BWA Global Council Resolution 2026.3

INTEGRAL AND POLYCENTRIC MISSION AS GUIDING MISSIONAL PRINCIPLES

WHEREAS, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is a global fellowship of Baptists committed to proclaiming and demonstrating the Gospel in word and deed, promoting justice and human rights, fostering unity among believers from diverse cultures, and contexts, and regions (1990 BWA World Congress The Seoul Covenant), and

WHEREAS, the rapidly changing realities of our world, and the emergence of 21st century missional trends, call for renewed understanding of mission that is both faithful to the Gospel, (as we discern what the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit are saying to us) and responsive to local and global challenges and opportunities (BWA World Congress Resolution 2000.4 Renewal, Growth, Evangelism and Mission), and

WHEREAS, evangelism and social responsibility belong together in faithful Christian witness, we believe that compassionate action must not replace our verbal proclamation of the Gospel, and that proclaiming the Gospel is always authenticated by lives demonstrating holiness, mercy, justice, reconciliation, and love. As the church shares the good news of Jesus, we are called to address spiritual, physical, social, emotional, economic, and environmental needs (2005 BWA World Congress Message from the Centenary Congress, 2016 EBF Tallinn Resolution on Mission, and

WHEREAS, we live in a world where many do not have access to Gospel witness, where many live in poverty, and too many suffer because of the misuse of power and oppression, we reaffirm the way of Jesus requires fundamental transformation for all, as we share in God’s mission (BWA Executive Committee Statement 2022-07.1 Restorative Racial Justice—A Call to Live in Flourishing Freedom), and

WHEREAS, significant changes in world Christianity, the global Baptist family, and continuing power imbalances between mission agencies, call for an intentional and prayerful consideration about innovative polycentric approaches to mission strategy, structures, collaboration, and use of resources (BWA General Council Resolution 2000.1 Global Mission), 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the BWA affirms integral and polycentric mission as guiding missional principles for its life and work.

Integral mission is the proclamation and demonstration of the Gospel of Christ, uniting evangelism, discipleship, compassion, justice, and creation care as inseparable aspects of God’s mission. It affirms that the Gospel seeks the transformation of individuals, communities, and systems—spiritually, physically, socially, economically, and environmentally—in keeping with the values of God’s Kingdom. Integral mission therefore regards evangelism and social action as essential expressions of Christian witness and obedience to the Great Commission, rejecting any division between the two.

Polycentric mission understands Christian mission as arising from multiple centers of initiative, leadership, theological reflection, and resource sharing that work together in complementary ways. In today’s global Christianity, as has often been the case historically, vibrant mission movements are found in both the majority and minority worlds. Mission no longer flows primarily from one geographic, cultural, or ecclesial center. Polycentric mission affirms mission as “from everyone to everywhere” and is marked by mutuality, partnership, reciprocity, and shared leadership. Cross-cultural mission was never intended to be “west to the rest.” Polycentric mission replaces traditional one-directional models with multidirectional networks of interconnected centers participating together in God’s mission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the BWA calls upon all partners to embrace and employ integral and polycentric mission approaches, so that together we may witness to the reconciling love of God in Christ to all peoples and all creation. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the BWA commits to:

Foster Collaborative Leadership: encouraging a humble, learning, listening, collaborative leadership posture, which recognizes the unique gifts, strengths, and perspectives each brings to global mission. 

Promote Integral Witness: integrating evangelism, discipleship, justice, compassion, reconciliation, alleviation of poverty and oppression, and care for creation in all aspects of mission, reflecting the fullness of the Gospel.

Promote Contextual Mission Practice: encouraging our global movement to deepen their understanding and practice of contextual mission approaches, which enable people to experience the good news of Jesus in ways that make sense in their context, culture, and language. Further, we humbly commit to learning from past approaches that disempowered the development of local, relevant mission practice.

Strengthen Partnership and Networking: building collaboration and networks among mission agencies and enterprises and encouraging partnerships among churches, conventions, and organizations that embody these principles, working together for the transformation of individuals and societies.

Encourage Theological Reflection and Leadership Resourcing: Facilitating and encouraging ongoing theological reflection, dialogue, and leadership resourcing on integral and polycentric mission, raising the consciousness of Baptists worldwide to engage faithfully and creatively in God’s mission.