Baptist leaders from around the world are traveling to the United States to attend meetings of the Baptist World Alliance® (BWA). The meetings bring together members of the Executive Committee, sub-committees of the Executive and BWA advisory committees.
Reports will be presented on the latest developments in three major international meetings that are being planned – the 8th Baptist International Conference on Theological Education to be held in Jamaica in June, the Baptist Youth World Conference planned for Singapore in July, and the 21st Baptist World Congress that is to take place in South Africa in July 2015. Each of these major meetings is held once every five years.
Two important documents are to be presented for consideration. Principles and Guidelines for Intra-Baptist Relationships, prepared by the Special Commission on Intra-Baptist Relations, aims to provide a framework for BWA’s response to the diversity of language, culture, opinions and perspectives in meetings and in the various operations of the international body.
A second document provides a profile of the role of the regional secretaries within the BWA. The Executive’s response to this profile will have implications for relations between the BWA and the six regions of Africa, Asia Pacific, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and North America.
The report on the second round of dialogue between Baptists and Catholics will also be made available to Executive Committee members ahead of its presentation at the Annual Gathering in Jamaica in July.
Reports will be received on the financial health of the BWA. Indications are that the BWA has successfully weathered the financial storms that have affected world economies in recent years and is seeing improvements in its financial position, even as it continues to meet human needs around the world and to increase its profile in the fight for freedom and justice.
Meetings are to be held March 3-6 at the BWA international offices in Falls Church, Virginia, a suburb of the US capital of Washington, DC.
Baptist World Alliance®
© February 25, 2013