BWA Commissions | Baptist World Alliance

BWA Commissions

Centered by a mission to “network the Baptist family to impact the world for Christ,” the BWA establishes commissions each quinquennium that align with the following core ministry areas:

  1. Worship, Fellowship, and Unity
  2. Mission and Evangelism
  3. Aid, Relief, and Community Development
  4. Religious Freedom, Human Rights, and Justice
  5. Theological Reflection and Transformational Leadership
Commissions are established by the Leadership Council to help the BWA engage with the worldwide BWA family in deeper reflection, study, engagement, or action. This may include creating resources, undertaking research, presenting and publishing reports and papers, participating in formal BWA dialogues and conversations, or engaging in advocacy.

Commission members are individuals with expertise and passion who volunteer to serve alongside other volunteer global leaders and the BWA Team in alignment with a Covenant of Service. Each Commission is led by a volunteer Chair and Vice Chair appointed by the Leadership Council and supported by a BWA team member. Commissions meet once a year in person at the BWA Annual Gathering in July and virtually each year at the call of the Chair. 

Constitution & Bylaws
Covenant of Service
Commission Expectations

Are you interested in serving on a BWA Commission during the 2025-2030 Quinquennium?
Complete the linked interest form and a BWA Team Member will follow up. 

Commission Member Interest Form
Commission descriptions and charters are categorized by ministry area and available for review below.
BWA Commissions

Worship, Fellowship and Unity

Centered in Jesus Christ and rooted in deep spiritual life, we strengthen our worldwide family through ongoing gatherings; pastoral presence; mutual friendships; and the cultivation of worship, fellowship, and unity. This Ministry Area most closely associates with the Bible Path of the Acts 2 Movement.

1. Commission on Baptist Doctrine and Christian Unity

This Commission will identify, reflect on, and clarify issues of doctrinal importance to Baptists. It will share in theological conversations between the BWA and other Christian communities in furtherance of Jesus’ prayer for the unity of the church and participate in programs to improve inter-church understanding and cooperation, especially in relation to Christian World Communions, making findings available to the wider BWA family. It will analyze the causes of disunity among Baptists and promote ways to overcome this disunity.
View Charter

2. Commission on Baptist Heritage and Identity

This Commission will seek to clarify issues pertaining to the heritage and identity of the Baptist family with a view to furthering the local congregation’s understanding of its place and calling in the mission of God, in the culture, and in the worldwide Baptist movement. It will record the story of God’s participation and dealings among Baptists around the world and produce materials for use by Baptists and others who are interested in understanding Baptist identity.
View Charter

3. Commission on Worship and Prayer

This Commission will identify and explore issues around international worship and prayer, seeking to facilitate the global family in their reflection and engagement on the understanding and practice of worship and prayer among Baptists to encourage corporate responses to God’s gracious love and promote habits of healthy Christian formation, develop and identify materials for use by Baptists in their daily walk with God, and provide worship resources for churches. The Commission remit will also include practical support to the BWA team by providing support, facilitation, and/or practical resources that might include appropriate worship, music, liturgies, litanies, and prayers.
View Charter

** Global Communications Cohort

The BWA established this cohort for individuals with skills and experience in the fields of communication and media to provide insight, support and collective action; to build awareness worldwide; and to deepen engagement, fellowship, and unity across the Baptist family. This is an invitation only cohort working closely with the BWA Director of Communications and Media. To be considered for participation, please contact the BWA Communications Office.

BWA Commissions

Mission and Evangelism

Compelled by the Great Commission, we lead with a passionate commitment to Gospel witness in every context and people group, foster multidirectional partnerships that connect individuals and churches, and encourage global mission and evangelism. This Ministry Area most closely associates with the Witness Path of the Acts 2 Movement.

1. Commission on Evangelism and Discipleship

This Commission will provide biblical and theological reflection on the church’s calling to share the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ alone and live out its impact in our lives. It will assist churches in affirming and fulfilling their vocation of disciple-making by clarifying the biblical mandate and church-based strategies for world evangelization and discipleship. Biblical and practical attention as well as resource development will deepen understanding and engagement with a calling to whole-life discipleship and multidirectional Christian witness and partnerships in church, business, government, education, and social sectors.
View Charter

2. Commission on Faith and Business

This Commission will explore the intersection between faith and the business world. This will include how biblical and ethical principles of the Christian faith should influence business decision-making, workplace ethics, leadership, organizational culture, business policies, constructive dialogue, corporate social responsibility, and how companies can and should engage in community development and seek to positively impact society. It will also include the practice of business as mission.
View Charter

3. Commission on Strategic Cities and Least Reached People Groups

This Commission engages in the general trend towards global urbanization and the continued reality of least reached people groups. This Commission will help develop resources and focused strategies for BWA Baptist mission to least reached people groups, urban centers, and mega cities. It will research, identify, discuss, and share available data analysis to further equip churches to respond to the 21st century missional trends in these areas especially as it connects with the BWA Baptist movement as it is and how the Lord may be calling us forward. It will assist the BWA and Baptists worldwide in embracing mission education and strategies, including church planting and discipleship-making, for mission to strategic cities and least reached people groups.
View Charter
BWA Commissions

Aid and Community Development

Challenged to generously love our neighbor, we respond to people in need; collaborate in times of crisis; network agencies; support sustainability and creation care; build capacity; empower local church engagement; and resource aid, relief, and community development. This Ministry Area most closely associates with the Care Path of the Acts 2 Movement.

1. Commission on Humanitarian Aid and Community Development

This Commission engages in response to ongoing significant vulnerability experienced by many BWA Baptists as well as many people around the world in the myriad of man-made crises and natural disasters. This Commission will address global challenges related to humanitarian aid, community development, and crisis response, in keeping with kingdom values. Good practices and innovative approaches will be explored and developed to equip the BWA, BWA Member and Ministry Partners, and Baptist churches around the world to engage with the humanitarian aid sector as a local actor with a church identity in the delivery of humanitarian aid efficiently and equitably to promote a more just world.
View Charter

2. Commission on Racial, Gender, and Economic Justice

This Commission will seek to deepen awareness of the biblical portrait of equal dignity for all people, as well as the individual and corporate sin that maligns this reality. It will provide biblical and theological reflection designed to identify and confront all forms of racism, sexism, and economic injustice in the church and beyond. It will engage in research, develop resources, and challenge Baptists to work for racial and gender justice, ethnic reconciliation, and human flourishing, especially in local communities. The Commission will work to develop comprehensive strategies to address the unique challenges faced by marginalized populations and advocate in collaboration with various stakeholders for equitable access to resources and support services to create a more just and inclusive society for all in keeping with the values of the Kingdom of God.
View Charter

** Creation Care Initiative

The BWA has established a Creation Care Initiative to provide biblical and theological reflection and provide the BWA and Baptists more broadly with resources that include practical tools, sustained engagement, and resources for use in congregational worship, personal practices, and innovative sustainable development. This is an invitation only initiative working closely with the Director of BWAid. To be considered for participation, please contact the BWA.

BWA Commissions

Religious Freedom, Human Rights and Justice

Committed to a biblical understanding of the image of God in every person, we defend an ethic of life; support religious freedom for all; stand in solidarity with the marginalized; advocate at every level; train and network proactively; and mobilize for religious freedom, human rights, and justice. This Ministry Area most closely associates with the Religious Freedom Path of the Acts 2 Movement.

1. Commission on Human Rights, Peacebuilding, and Reconciliation

This Commission will explore and resource how the BWA and the global Baptist family can further human rights broadly and peace and reconciliation specifically. It will monitor situations, assist victims of violence or oppression including Baptist victims, raise awareness of human rights abuses, and mediate when Baptists and others are involved in conflict, either with each other or with others. It will reflect theologically; network; engage alongside the work of the BWA, particularly at the United Nations; and resource Baptists to act similarly at local, national, and regional levels.

View Charter

2. Commission on Religious Freedom

This Commission will explore how the BWA and the global Baptist family can pursue the advancement of religious freedom for people of all faiths or no faith, including on behalf of Baptists who experience or are threatened by persecution. It will monitor situations, assist victims of persecution including Baptist victims, raise awareness of religious freedom abuses, and continue to advance a Baptist commitment to religious freedom for all and religion differentiated from nationalism. It will develop theological resources, provide information on issues of religious freedom, prepare reports and research papers, empower through training, mobilize greater engagement on behalf of religious freedom alongside the work of the BWA, particularly at the United Nations; and resource Baptists to act similarly at local, national, and regional levels.

View Charter

 

3. Commission on Safeguarding

This Commission will be guided by biblical principles to focus on resourcing the BWA, Member and Ministry Partners, and Baptist churches on how to foster churches and all parts of the Baptist family as places of wellbeing that protect vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and victims of abuse. Through research, dialogue, identifying and developing recommended programs, organizing awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, widely disseminating findings, and fostering multilingual policies, practices, and guides, the Commission will strengthen safeguarding practices, equip advocacy for systemic changes, and promote the safety, dignity, and empowerment of individuals both within the church and the broader community with compassion, respect, and protection.

View Charter
BWA Commissions

Theological Reflection and Transformational Leadership

Called to discipleship, we advance multicultural and multilingual training, empower next generation leaders, encourage meaningful dialogue and praxis, and engage in relevant theological reflection and transformational leadership. This Ministry Area most closely associates with the Neighbor Path of the Acts 2 Movement.

1. Commission on Faith and Technology

The Commission will explore the intersection between faith and technology. This will include how theology and biblical and ethical principles of the Christian faith should influence the wide range of technology and related issues such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, cybersecurity, data mining and management, algorithms, social media, digital communications, and digital equity. The Commission will produce research, resources, and advocacy that help equip the BWA, Member and Ministry Partners, churches, and individuals for better engagement and utilization of technology in their ministry; safeguard the intersection of human rights and technology; and promote flourishing freedom across the world.
View Charter

2. Commission on Healthy Churches

This Commission will focus in helping identify elements of and develop strategies and resources for building church health with a particular focus on the development of both lay and ordained leaders, nurturing effective congregational ministry built upon Christian education and leadership that lead to faithful Christian discipleship, leadership, and ministry within and beyond the local church. It will deepen understanding of a calling to whole-life discipleship and Christian leadership in church, business, government, education, and social sectors.
View Charter

3. Commission on Multifaith Relations

This Commission will reflect on multifaith relations to foster mutual respect and to promote the common welfare of Baptists and their neighbors of other religions. It will probe the mandate to evangelize, while also living as persons of peace, seeking to increase mutual understanding and interaction between people of different religious communities. It will research and develop ways to diffuse violence and conflict rooted in religious ideology or language and develop toolkits and resources for Baptists worldwide. The Commission will participate in appropriate multifaith conversations and relationship-building endeavors.
View Charter

** NxtGen Leadership Initiative

The BWA has established a NxtGen Leadership initiative to identify, energize, and mobilize emerging Baptist leaders aged 18-34 from around the world, engaged professionally in both marketplace and ministry roles, who will be mentored, challenged, and empowered toward opportunities for key leadership in the BWA and Baptist movements throughout the BWA family. This is an invitation only initiative working closely with the BWA Director of NextGen Leadership. To be considered for participation, please contact the BWA.