We are pleased to share with you the entire set of Resolutions, Manifestos, Messages and Proclamations approved by delegates attending the Baptist World Alliance World Congresses from 1905 through 2015 (the 2020 Congress was postponed to 2021 due to the global pandemic).
Additionally, we are offering the Resolutions and Manifestos approved by the BWA General Council, which meets yearly. The online collection includes the years 1976-2019. The BWA Executive Committee Resolutions are currently being compiled, and a limited number are already accessible. The collection will be expanded over time.
Each Resolution document is in PDF format and seeks to reproduce the original text as closely as possible. This means that language and punctuation may be archaic and not in accordance with contemporary standards of discourse. Spellings of words sometimes are in British English and have been preserved as they were originally published. I am solely responsible for any typographical errors in reproduction, and I would deeply appreciate it if you would share with me any that you may discover.
It is the BWA’s hope that this collection will be useful to scholars, historians, denominational leaders, and clergy. Each document now contains a unique identification number, topical keywords, and four types of citations for academic purposes.
The range of issues covered by the collection is comprehensive, and many of the Resolutions speak to contemporary concerns (such as racism, antisemitism, poverty and war) with multi-cultural wisdom, spiritual integrity, and intellectual depth. Readers seeking to learn how Baptists on a global scale and across time have addressed the human condition in all of its variations (moral, social, economic, political, etc.) will be rewarded as well as challenged.
In Baptist polity, Resolutions and other collective statements are not binding on Baptist individuals or churches. They intend to share wisdom and raise consciousness rather than to demand or coerce conformity or hinder the soul freedom and responsibility of people to follow God according to the dictates of their own Christ-led conscience. In the foreword to the 1955 Golden Jubilee World Congress Official Report (p. 6), BWA General Secretary Arnold T. Ohrn stated this principle well:
If you should need any further assistance in utilizing this online historical archive, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer,
BWA Historian (Click here to contact)
For ease of reference, click one of the buttons below to see resolutions in that category.
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Appreciation
This Council expresses its deepest appreciation:
• to the government of Argentina for its gracious welcome and its readiness to grant visas to all participants;
• to the officers and churches of the Convenciòn Evangèlica Bautista Argentina for the careful preparations, warm welcome, generous hospitality and interpretation service;
Process
The General Council recognizes the complexities of the issues faced by our world today. It is concerned that these be addressed adequately by the Alliance. The Executive of the Council is therefore requested to review major matters to be processed by the Resolutions Committee at its next meeting and to seek out competent persons who will be asked to submit proposed resolutions to be reviewed and where necessary revised by the Resolutions Committee for recommendation to the General Council.
Nuclear Arms
Once again WE EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND CONCERN over international tensions, the armed conflicts in certain regions, the economic burden of large armaments and armed forces, the threat of nuclear annihilation of humanity;
The 10th Baptist World Youth Conference
We rejoice in the success of the 10th Baptist World Youth Conference recently held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
We strongly reaffirm the following message from the Conference addressed to Baptists of the world and commend its implementation in whatever way seems most appropriate:
Reaffirmation
While we acknowledge that there are strong cultural and theological differences about the role of women in the church, we wish to affirm the teaching of Galatians 3:28 that in Christ, male and female are equal.
We encourage the churches to affirm this truth in the life and thereby reflect integrity in our Christian witness.
Greetings
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in West Berlin, sends warm Christian greetings to the Lutheran World Federation meeting at the same time in Budapest. We pray for God’s blessing on your deliberations and on the work of your churches throughout the world.
International Year of Youth
WE CALL UPON Baptists of the world, in cooperation with other Christians, to make one of their evangelistic goals the winning of a whole new generation of young people for Christ, by sharing with them the Gospel of hope as the only answer to the many problems and dangers facing them — nuclear threat, unemployment, drugs, hunger, poverty, materialism, racism, violence, etc.
Appreciation
This Council expresses its deep appreciation to the Union of the Evangelical Free Churches s in Germany (Bund Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden in Deutschland), to the Baptist Churches of Berlin West and to the city authorities, for their welcome and generous hospitality and for their careful preparations for these Council meetings. We also thank the officers and staff of the Alliance for their commitment and organization which have insured the success of the meetings.
Human Rights-A Call to Action Against Torture
We reaffirm the fundamental Christian convictions expressed in Resolution 1983.4 of the Baptist World Alliance, adopted in July 1983 in the Republic of Argentina, namely that “human rights are God-given and that violations of human rights are violations of the laws of God.”
Youth Ministry
he BWA General Council welcomes the report of the Youth Executive Committee on the value of the Asian Youth Leadership Training Conference in Singapore last week.
With them we thank God for the enthusiasm and commitment of the youth leaders who shared in this cross- cultural experience. We also acknowledge the support of those Unions and Conventions which made it possible for so many to attend.
Greetings to the Southern Baptist Convention
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Singapore July 2-5, 1986, sends greetings to the Southern Baptist Convention and conveys interest in the well-being of the Convention through prayer that it may experience under the Lordship of Christ a strengthening of harmony and goodwill, and thereby continue to direct its total effort, out of the abundance of its resources in Christ and its churches, to the winning of people to Christ and the building up of the Church as the agent of peace and reconciliation in the world.
International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. notes that the United Nations has designated 1987 as International Year of Shelter for the Homeless;
2. commends the study of appropriate materials on this subject which will be available from the United Nations and various Baptist bodies;
3. encourages our member bodies to take such actions, particularly through local churches, as will contribute to the lessening of this social problem.
Baptist Identity
In an era of concern over Baptist identity, this Council endorses the request of the BWA Baptist Heritage Commission to urge Baptists worldwide to recover their rich heritage and to conduct their mission as part of Christ’s church with a deeper understanding of their history, and indicates the availability of the Commission as a resource body.
Peace with Justice
Whereas humankind has now entered the fifth decade of life under the awesome threat of nuclear annihilation, and
Whereas the nations of the world will spend approximately the equivalent of one trillion US dollars this year on military forces and weapons, and
Prisoners of Conscience
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. notes the vast number of people, both men and women, who are in prison, whose only “crime” has been the conscientious expression of different political views of the proclamation of the Christian Gospel;
World Hunger (1986)
WHEREAS, estimates of the number of chronically hungry people range from 500 million to one billion, from one-eighth to one-fourth of the world’s population; and
Afghanistan
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. is aware of the present situation in the country of Afghanistan and notes with concern the plight of some three million refugees;
2. also notes that the refugee situation has created serious problems for neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan;
Nicaragua
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. affirms its solidarity with the Nicaraguan Baptist Convention;
2. notes with pleasure that delegations of Baptists from various parts of the world have established personal and church links with our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua and encourages other Baptist Unions and Conventions to do the same;
South Africa
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. affirms its solidarity with the Nicaraguan Baptist Convention;
2. notes with pleasure that delegations of Baptists from various parts of the world have established personal and church links with our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua and encourages other Baptist Unions and Conventions to do the same;
Appreciation
This Council expresses its warm appreciation to the officers and members of the Singapore Baptist Convention for their generous welcome and hospitality and for the excellent arrangements made for these meetings. We thank those who have made us feel so much at home.
Hostages
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Amman, Jordan, July 5-12, 1987, affirms its belief:
— that all human beings are created by God;
— that human life is sacred and of value to God;
Religious and Racial Minorities
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Amman, Jordan, July 5-12, 1987, l) welcomes the encouraging report of the Baptist Friendship Tour to China in 1986;
2) warmly supports the decision to plan further visits and contacts for learning and sharing with Chinese Christians; and,
2000 A.D. — Year of Peace
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Amman, Jordan, July 5-12, 1987, welcomes the vision of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America for the year 2000 A.D. to be recognized as a Year of Peace to mark the beginning of the third Christian millennium.
The Millennium of Christianity in Russia
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Amman, Jordan, July 5-12, 1987, expresses its joy at the forthcoming celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Christianity in Russia in 1988 and gives God thanks for the contribution of Russian Christians to the world church.
Appreciation
This Council wholeheartedly thanks the officers, members and churches of the Jordan Baptist Convention and the missionary personnel working with them for their warm welcome and generous hospitality and for the excellent preparations made for these meetings in Amman.
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