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)
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Resolution of Thanks
Whereas, The Baptist World Alliance has had the privilege these past three years of having as its President the Rev. C. Oscar Johnson, D.D., beloved pastor of the Third Baptist Church of St. Louis, Mo., and
Resolution on Genocide
The U. N. Convention defines genocide to mean certain acts (enumerated in Article II) committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, as such.
“Genocide is a denial of the right of existence of entire human groups, as homicide is the denial of the right to live of individual human beings.”
Resolution on Race Relations
WHEREAS, The Baptist World Alliance in 1934, 1939 and 1947 condemned racial discrimination;
WHEREAS, The question of race relations is world-wide in scope and is one of the most serious and baffling problems confronting mankind today;
Resolution on Prayer
Since the wrong we have committed only God can correct; since the peace and universal brotherhood we seek and long for, only God can bring; since the unity we desire, only God can bring it to pass; since every commission that has reported acknowledges that prayer is the key and the solution of the problems in its area and that at home and abroad souls are hungry for a better understanding of each other and a close walk with God, regardless of race, color, social, economic or cultural level;
Resolution on International Relations
BWA World Congress Resolution 1947.1 "Baptists in every land join with their fellow-Christians in the prayer that peace, both just and abiding, may come soon to the hearts of all mankind. To that end, we hail with hope two recent developments: First, war has been...
Evangelism
The Congress rejoices in the spontaneous action of a number of its members in gathering for an informal conference on Evangelism, receives with high appreciation the suggestions and recommendations which they have put forward, and refers them to the Executive Committee for sympathetic consideration and consultation.
Racialism
BWA World Congress Resolution 1939.5 The Sixth Baptist World Congress, assembled in Atlanta, Ga., is constrained to express the judgment of Baptist people in general on the question of race relationship. The members rejoice that the preparations for the present...
Temperance (1939)
BWA World Congress Resolution 1939.4 This assembly of the Baptist World Alliance declares that the sale and use of intoxicants increase crime, waste national resources, corrupt social habits, and are inimical to the welfare of individuals and of society, and should...
Russia
The members of this Sixth Baptist World Congress, meeting in Atlanta, Ga., record their sorrow that it has been impossible for any representatives from the U. S. S. R. to participate in their assembly. They would desire, if it is possible to reach them, to assure the Baptists in those Republics of the prayerful and continuous sympathy of their fellow-believers throughout the World.
Rumania (1939)
This Baptist World Congress has learned with satisfaction that, through the action of the Prime Minister, the Rumanian Baptist Churches, which were last year closed as the effect of repressive administrative orders issued by the Minister of Cults, have throughout the larger part of the land been re-opened. The Congress has also learned of the issue of a new administrative decree whose terms are less severe than those of earlier decrees.
Resolutions on Commission Reports
(i) This Congress has received with high appreciation the report of Commission No. 1, on the subject “What Baptists Can Do to Avert War and Promote Peace,” and commends its contents to Baptists throughout the World for study and action.
Resolution of Thanks
BWA World Congress Resolution 1934.9 187. The Honorary Associate Secretary, Dr. Clifton D. Gray, in speak-ing to the subject, “What this Congress has accomplished,” moved the following Resolution of Thanks on behalf of the Resolutions Committee, with particular...
Church and State
171. The Rev. Gilbert Laws, England, moved the following Resolution on “Church and State”:
“The members of this Congress believe that the Church is the company of the people of Christ with the Lord Himself according to His promise in the midst of them, and that He by His Spirit guides them into all Truth and makes plain to them the Will of God for them.
Racialism
163. Professor A.T. Ohrn, Norway, moved the following Resolution on “Racialism”
“This Congress representing the world-wide, inter-racial fellowship of Baptists, rejoices to know that despite all differences of race, there is in Christ an all-embracing unity, so that in Him it can be claimed with deepest truth there is ‘neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all in all.’
Centenary Appreciation for Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“In the centenary year of the birth of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the Baptist World Congress recalls with gratitude and praise the mighty preacher whose God-given powers have been exercised for the healing of the nations, and who “being dead yet speaketh.” Spurgeon gloried supremely in the Cross of Christ, and turned multitudes to his Saviour. Large-hearted and practical, he responded to the appeal of human need, and the Gospel he preached was illustrated by the Orphanage he founded.
War
“The international misunderstandings, jealousies and rivalries which have followed the last Great War have baffled every effort to secure general disarmament. The preparation of munitions of war is a commercial interest. There is through-out the World a growing sense of insecurity because of the failure thus far to establish an effective commonwealth of nations possessing the authority and the means for redressing and preventing international injustice.
Relief for Russia
“This Congress hears with deep concern of the conditions of want and starvation in Soviet Russia which have already caused millions of deaths, and are likely, unless help can be given, to cost yet more millions of lives in the coming winter. It would welcome the appointment of an international non-political Commission to ascertain the extent of the need and to devise means of relief.”
Repression of Religion in Russia
BWA World Congress Resolution 1934.3 122. Dr. W. O. Lewis, European representative of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, moved the following resolution on behalf of the Resolutions Committee: “This World Congress of Baptists representing sixty countries...
The Centenary of the German Baptists
BWA World Congress Resolution 1934.2 107. An Address was given by Prof. C. Schneider, Germany, on the subject: “The Centenary of the German Baptists.” 108. The following Resolution was moved by Dr. J. W. Bradbury, U.S.A.: “The Fifth Baptist World Congress recognizes a...
Appreciation to John MacNeill
The Baptist World Alliance in Session at Berlin, Germany, August the fourth to the tenth; nineteen hundred and thirty-four, wish to express to their President, Dr. John MacNeill, their great appreciation of the warm, sympathetic and inspiring Greeting received from him. They also wish to express their sympathy with him in his present affliction and with his poignant grief in not being able to be with them in their sessions. They rejoice, however, in the assurance that his recovery now seems to be certain. They recognise their great loss in not having his effective leadership at the Congress.
Thanks to Swedish Baptists
Deeply appreciating the painstaking efforts of our Swedish brethren in the long work of preparation for this the third session of the Baptist World Alliance, and mindful especially of the faithful services of love rendered by Dr. C. E. Benander, Dr. J. Bystrom, the Rev. K. A. Modén, and others, who for many months have worked so untiringly for its success, we count it a distinct pleasure to register our cordial thanks. We are sure that nothing has been lacking in the preparations, and that no pains have been spared to ensure the comfort and welfare of the hundreds of delegates in attendance.
Rumania (1923)
This Congress, representing the Baptists of the world, records its distress and indignation that the Rumanian Government has failed to secure the rights of religious minorities, and that it has failed to check or prevent numerous acts of persecution on the part of the local organs of administration.
International Peace
The members of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Stockholm, recognize with thankfulness that there are many signs of hope on the far horizon, in spite of the fact that the war spirit is still at work among the nations. The sense of the horror and wickedness of war has burnt itself deeply into the heart and conscience of all the members of our churches.
Russian Delegates
The Baptist World Alliance expresses its gratification that the Russian delegates have been able to attend the Congress, and it welcomes them heartily. It feels that the situation is now more favourable for the carrying out of the original purpose of the College Fund, and it refers the whole matter, including Dr. Cree’s proposals, for the careful consideration of the Executive Committee. The Executive shall be authorized to take any further counsel which may be advisable with the Boards concerned.
Temperance (1923)
That this Congress accords its whole-hearted approval of the important work being done in and through the Baptist churches of the world to secure, by the adoption of the principle and practice of Total Abstinence, and by governmental action, the removal of the evils wrought by the use of intoxicating drinks, and the total elimination of the drink traffic.
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