BWA General Council Resolution 2014.4

The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Izmir, Turkey, July 9-11, 2014:

ACKNOWLEDGES that every human being is created in the image of God and thereby has an intrinsic value to God and to the world (Genesis 1:26-27);

AFFIRMS that God calls all people to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8);

RECOGNIZES that Jesus commands us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves as a model of practicing justice in the world today (Mark 12:33);

ENDORSES transparency and integrity in all aspects of public life as called for by the Exposed Campaign, a faith-based call to end corruption in government and business sectors; and

JOINS with brothers and sisters in various faith communities, including the World Council of Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance, in signing this public letter to the leaders of the G20 nations meeting in Brisbane, Australia in November 2014:

We, the leaders of faith based communities, issue this letter calling for integrity and transparency in public life.

We are part of the global EXPOSED campaign representing a billion people in 170 nations taking a stand against greed, secret deals and abuse of public influence, which happens everywhere and affects the poorest most. In 2010 developing countries lost around US$850 billion to illicit financial flows and tax evasion associated with trade mis-pricing costs developing countries $160bn a year. The lives of 230 little children could be saved every day if corruption issues were addressed and much needed funds were released for development.

As faith leaders, we repent of any practices that may have contributed to corruption, and mend our ways. And we call on G20 governments which have influence over nearly all multinationals operating around the globe, to promote greater transparency in their financial affairs.

[Previously], G20 finance leaders [had] the chance to address bribery and tax evasion in multinational companies and government officials. In November, government leaders could

BWA General Council Resolution 2014.4

endorse those measures in an historic meeting in Australia. It is our prayer that as you fulfil the G20’s mandate, the policies that you formulate will restore fairness and prevent greed.

ENCOURAGES all Baptist churches, conventions and unions to practice justice, accountability and transparency in all our dealings;

URGES all Baptists to call attention to corruption that can, and does, expose people to unnecessary suffering; and

CALLS UPON Baptists around the world to take action to combat corruption at every level in keeping with the biblical command to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.

Citations

Original Source Bibliography: Callam, Neville, editor. Baptist World Alliance 2014 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory. Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2014.

Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Neville Callam, ed., Baptist World Alliance 2014 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory (Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2014), pp. 140- 141.

Online Document Full Citation: BWA General Council Resolution 2014.4 Corruption; https://baptistworld.org/resolutions.

In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA General Council Resolution 2014.4).