BWA Global Council Resolution 2026.2 

WHEREAS, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports more than 140 million children worldwide have lost either one parent or both, including 15 million children who have lost both parents, while nearly 9 million children around the world currently live in institutions, orphanages, or children’s homes, despite having at least one living parent; and

WHEREAS, 520 million children globally (one in five), are living in active conflict zones, suffering malnourishment, displacement, lack of access to education, denial of humanitarian access and aid, separation, and poverty (BWA General Council Resolution 1989.4 Children; 2002.3 Children; and 2022.1 Ukraine); and

WHEREAS, UNICEF reports that 412 million children wake up in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $3 per day, and that children are twice as likely as adults to live in extreme monetary poverty; and

WHEREAS, in 2006 the BWA General Council recognized that children experience varied “forms of violence” because of the “precarious and vulnerable situations” they find themselves in, affirmed “that they are created in God’s image with the right to live free from violence and exploitation,” and so encouraged the Baptist family to “pray and work towards the end of the violence against women and children in the family, the church, and the community” (BWA General Council Resolution 2006.2 Violence Against Women and Children; 2018.2 Opposing Violence and Abuse of Women and Girls); and 

WHEREAS, the BWA has consistently opposed sexual exploitation and abuse of children (BWA General Council Resolution 2000.3 The Sexual Exploitation of Children; 2013.14 Child Sexual Abuse in the Church), and

WHEREAS, Jesus declared, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (Mark 9:37) and “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:13-14; Mark 10:13-16), while the Apostle James urged Jesus’ disciples to “visit orphans” (James 1:27);

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the BWA Global Council, meeting in Toronto, Canada, from July 6-10, 2026, call on Baptists worldwide and all followers of Jesus Christ to care about and pray unceasingly for the world’s vulnerable children who live in desperation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Global Council encourages the congregations and member partners of the Baptist World Alliance to develop and expand effective ministries manifesting God’s love and compassion for vulnerable children of the world, using every resource at our disposal, and to share creative initiatives and fruitful service programs with others within our global Baptist family, such as:

• Promoting adoption and foster care as a Christian response to the plight of children who do not have parents or a supportive home;
• Mentorship or friendship programs for at-risk children who lack supportive and positive home environments;
• Life-skill workshops for older children;
• Church support for community service partners that directly serve vulnerable children;
• Church pantries and foodbanks to support families living in poverty;
• Supporting Baptist mission agencies that respond to crisis or systemic situations impacting vulnerable youth; 
• Implementing appropriate safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable children from abuse.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that as representatives of the global Baptist family from 138 countries with 283 member partners, and more than 53 million followers of Jesus Christ, we pledge to individually and as a Council highlight and support the ideas, resources, and ministries that directly serve vulnerable children within our individual countries and Baptist bodies, setting the example for others in our respective nations and demonstrating the love of God for the most vulnerable in our world today.