BWA Leads Racial Justice Advocacy at the United Nations
Baptist Delegation Promotes Addition of 18th Sustainable Development Goal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA – April 11, 2025) The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is leading a delegation of 35 people from eight countries to New York City to participate in the United Nations (UN) 4th Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent from April 14-17, 2025.
The international delegation will host multiple events as part of the BWA’s Flourishing Freedom Initiative, a multi-year focus on racial justice launched at the 2022 BWA Annual Gathering hosted in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
“While it is true that racism is no longer supported by legislation, it is undeniable that it is evident in many societies through prejudice, structures, and systems,” said Everton Jackson, BWA Director of Integral Mission. “The evil of racism cannot be brushed aside and swept under the rug as if it is not a significant issue. Where there is inequity, inequality, and disparity on the basis of race, the nations of the world must respond in a unified way.”
In 2015, the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to provide “a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.”1 The BWA delegation will focus their advocacy on a call to add an 18th SDG focused on restorative racial justice.
“The time is right for the addition of an 18th Sustainable Development Goal to ensure that racial inequality is addressed intentionally and deliberately to guarantee flourishing freedom for all,” said Jackson. “The Baptist World Alliance joins with nations, especially Colombia and Brazil, in lobbying the United Nations to add an 18th SDG focusing on racial justice for the next decadal focus of the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent.”
The BWA delegation will facilitate a UN Side Event entitled “The Missing SDG: A Call for Restorative Racial Justice” on Tuesday, April 15, from 10:00-11:30 am at the Church Center for the United Nations. The session will be facilitated by Kasey Jones, Coordinator of Outreach and Growth for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and will feature the following topics and speakers:
- “Presenting the Case for an 18th SDG – Racial Justice” led by Ahmed Reid
- “The UN General Framework for Agenda 2030 – SDGs” led by Gaynel Curry
- “Why Does Restorative Racial Justice Matter to the Global Church?” led by Emmett Dunn
The BWA will also host a community-wide ecumenical worship and prayer service on Tuesday, April 15, at 6:00 pm at the Church Center for the United Nations (Tillman Chapel). The Worship Leader will be TaNikka Sheppard, General Secretary of North American Baptist Fellowship, which is one of the six regional fellowships of the BWA. Special music will be provided by Nicole Elaine Phifer, Minister of Music at the Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church. Speakers will be Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, a diplomat and faith leader, and Boise Kimber, President of National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. All are welcome to attend this time of prophetic prayer and worship.
Following the delegate-led events of April 14-15, BWA General Secretary Elijah M. Brown and BWA United Nations Representative Scott Stearman will continue advocacy efforts throughout the duration of the Forum on People of African Descent. Baptist churches around the world are also invited to join in advocacy by facilitating an SDG18 Awareness Sunday in proximity to a national historic milestone, such as Juneteenth within the United States.
For more information about the BWA’s racial justice efforts, visit BaptistWorld.org/racial-justice and follow the BWA on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube for updates with the hashtag #TheMissingSDG.