BWA General Council Resolution 1993.5
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe August 6-9, 1993,
AFFIRMS that because all life is the gift of God and that every person is created in the image of God, human life is sacred;
LAMENTS the numerous violations of that sacredness which occur throughout the world, including; • National and international conflict;
• Widespread resort to abortion;
• Female infanticide;
• Murder and all other illegal termination of life;
• Capital punishment;
• Euthanasia, suicide and assisted suicide; and
• Any irresponsible behavior which destroys human life.
RECOGNIZES that Baptists accept the Bible as authoritative in matters of faith and conduct;
ACKNOWLEDGES the complexity of these issues and the diversity of understanding and approaches which arise as Baptists seek to discover the mind of Christ with respect to these matters;
COMMENDS member bodies which have undertaken study and action on this subject and invites them to share the results of their work through the Baptist World Alliance; and
CALLS Baptists to honor the principle of the individual’s freedom of conscience to interpret Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to respect one another’s integrity where differences exist as together we seek to affirm the sanctity of human life.
Citations
Original Source Bibliography: Lotz, Denton, editor. Baptist World Alliance 1993-1994 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory. McLean, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 1993.
Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Denton Lotz, ed., Baptist World Alliance 1993-1994 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory (McLean, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 1993), p. 111.
Online Document Full Citation: BWA General Council Resolution 1993.5 The Sanctity of Human Life; https://baptistworld.org/resolutions.
In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA General Council Resolution 1993.5).