FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(TORONTO, Canada – July 8, 2026) Delegates to the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Global Council approved four resolutions during their July 8 meeting, held in conjunction with the 2026 BWA Annual Gathering in Toronto, Canada.
Submitted by the BWA Resolutions Committee following consultation with Baptist leaders from around the world, the resolutions address timely issues facing the global Church while reaffirming biblical convictions and the Baptist commitment to human dignity, compassion, justice, and faithful witness.
The four resolutions adopted by the Global Council include:
- Empowering and Caring for People with Disabilities and Special Needs: Recognizing that people with disabilities and special needs are indispensable members of the body of Christ, the resolution calls Baptist churches worldwide to cultivate communities of welcome, accessibility, and mutual care. It encourages congregations to remove barriers to participation and to affirm, equip, and empower every person to use their God-given gifts in ministry and service.
- Serving Vulnerable Children:
Acknowledging the immense challenges facing children affected by poverty, displacement, violence, exploitation, and family separation, the resolution reaffirms the BWA’s longstanding commitment to protecting and serving vulnerable children. It encourages churches to expand ministries that provide hope, compassion, advocacy, and practical support while reflecting Christ’s special love for children.
- Integral and Polycentric Mission as Guiding Missional Principles:
Affirming that God’s mission remains central to the life and witness of the Church, the resolution identifies integral and polycentric mission as guiding principles for Baptist engagement in the world. It calls the global Baptist family to embrace holistic Gospel witness through collaborative partnerships that recognize the diverse gifts, voices, and leadership present throughout the worldwide Church.
- Just Peace and Accountability Among Nations: Grounded in the biblical call to peacemaking and reconciliation, the resolution reaffirms the BWA’s historic commitment to justice, human dignity, and religious freedom. It encourages nations, institutions, and individuals to pursue accountable leadership, uphold human rights, and work toward a just and flourishing peace for all people.
“Throughout this week, we have continued the work of the committee in partnership with the global family, listening carefully to the feedback and recommendations received from Global Council members to ensure these resolutions reflect both the diversity of our global Baptist family and the unity of our shared mission,” said Dawari George, BWA Resolutions Committee Chair. “Taken together, these four resolutions speak to some of the defining opportunities facing the global Church today. They call us to welcome every member of Christ’s body. They call us to protect the most vulnerable among us. They call us to renew our commitment to God’s global mission, and they call us to pursue peace with courage and conviction.”
The BWA Global Council is composed of member partners from Baptist conventions, unions, and organizations across the worldwide Baptist family. Resolutions adopted by the Global Council seek to express the collective convictions of the global Baptist fellowship, offering biblical guidance, encouragement, and a united witness on matters of significance for the Church and society.
The BWA Resolutions Committee includes Chair Dawari George, Vice Chair Stephen Stookey, Committee Members Afolabi G. Agbèdè, Johnathan O. Hemmings, Brian Kaylor, Wissam Nasrallah, Jennifer Rash, Bijoy A. Sangma, Jerome Washington, Edison Yuniwo, ex officio members BWA General Secretary & CEO Elijah Brown, BWA Historian Lee Spitzer, and BWA Staff Liaison Merritt Johnston.
The full text of each resolution is available at BaptistWorld.org along with the historic resolutions archive at BaptistWorld.org/resolutions.
BWA Resolutions Committee Chair Dawari George stands with members of the committee to share their report with the BWA Global Council.
Click the images below to access the 2026 BWA Global Council Resolutions.
