1994 International Year of the Family

Baptist World Alliance Logo

BWA General Council Resolution 1994.3

The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Uppsala, Sweden from 18-24 July 1994:

RECOGNIZES with thanksgiving in the United Nations International Year of the Family progress documented by UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children (1994) report in such areas as literacy, health and nutrition;

PROCLAIMS the biblical definition of the family, a permanent, monogamous, heterosexual union, as the original divine plan for family life which must continue to serve as foundation and ideal for an ordered and effective society.

ACKNOWLEDGES that since family life is under threat in all cultures, Christians must ensure effective marriage preparation, teach family members to communicate with each other, provide relevant models of parenting and benefit from the wisdom of the older generation of Christians;

VIEWS WITH ALARM the consequences for the nurture of family life, of the deteriorating situation of women, many of whom suffer from such difficulties as poor health care, lack of clean and safe water, illiteracy, domestic violence and sexual slavery, as documented in the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department report Women 1994;

LAMENTS the agony of millions of the world’s children caused by disease, malnutrition, poverty, child prostitution, sex tourism, slavery, abuse and war;

URGES the world Baptist family to mark this Year by taking action on behalf of the women of the world following the examples of ministries cited in Women 1994;

IMPLORES above all that we give children first call on our compassion and resources, committing ourselves to prayer, research, actions which seek universal ratification of the United Nations Convention

on the Rights of the Child with implementation of its provisions and saying “Yes” to God who gives first place to children.

Citations

Original Source Bibliography: Lotz, Denton, editor. Baptist World Alliance 1994 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory. McLean, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 1994.

Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Denton Lotz, ed., Baptist World Alliance 1994 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory (McLean, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 1994), pp. 116-117.

Online Document Full Citation: BWA General Council Resolution 1994.3 1994 International Year of the Family; https://baptistworld.org/resolutions.

In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA General Council Resolution 1994.3).

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.

Latest News

Baptist World Congress Logo Unveiled

In partnership with Australian Baptist Ministries and Queensland Baptists, the BWA is pleased to unveil the 2025 Congress logo designed by a First Nations artist.

2022 BWA Annual Gathering Focused on Racial Justice

(BIRMINGHAM, AL – July 22, 2022) The thematic focus and content development for the Gathering was largely facilitated by the BWA Racial Justice Action Group launched in October 2020 with unanimous affirmation from the BWA Executive Committee. Co-chaired by BWA General Secretary Elijah M. Brown and BWA First Vice President Karl Johnson from Jamaica, the Action Group embarked on a two-year journey

BWA Welcomes New Member Body

Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 12, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) General Council unanimously approved the Missionary Baptist Conference, USA (MBC), as the newest member of the global Baptist body.

Executive Committee Releases Statement on Ukrainian Crisis

(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, USA – March 25, 2022) In conjunction with its Executive Committee meetings conducted this month, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Executive Committee has released a joint statement in response to the crisis in Eastern Europe. This is the first statement of its kind released by the Executive Committee in over 40 years.