BWA World Congress Resolution 1985.5

Gathered in Los Angeles for the 15th Baptist World Congress in July 1985, we who represent Baptists from about 100 countries, wish to reaffirm our adherence to the cherished principle of religious liberty.

We see it being threatened today by religious persecution in many parts of the world.

We note with sorrow that there have been more Christian martyrs in this century than in any previous one; that many fellow believers face severe restrictions and harassment which prevent freedom of worship and witness; that some endure long, harsh imprisonment, exile and torture for their faith.

We are convinced that this denies to many people the basic human right of religious liberty, and that the time is ripe once again to speak out against it in this year which marks the 10th anniversary of the Helsinki Agreement.

Rejoicing in “the glorious liberty of the children of God,” we urge all Baptists to become more informed about the circumstances of other believers and then to pray, speak and act in every way possible for the support and encouragement of the many thousands of Christians called upon to suffer to their faith in these days.

Citations

Original Source Bibliography: Kerstan, Reinhold J. And Burke, Ruby J., editors. Out of the Darkness Into the Light: Official Report of the Fifteenth Congress, Los Angeles, California, USA, July 2-7, 1985. McLean, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 1985.

Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Reinhold J. Kerstan and Ruby J. Burke, eds., Out of the Darkness Into the Light: Official Report of the Fifteenth Congress, Los Angeles, California, USA, July 2-7, 1985 (McLean, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 1985), pp. 220-221.

Online Document Full Citation: BWA World Congress Resolution 1985.5 Religious Liberty; https://baptistworld.org/resolutions.

In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA World Congress Resolution 1985.5).