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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Baptist World Alliance Hosts Virtual Executive Sessions
(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA – March 12, 2021) The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) concluded its Executive Committee Sessions this week, which included over 80 participants from more than 30 countries. I
Unstoppable: COVID-19 and the Church
Wati Longchar challenges readers to go out from the four walls of the church at this critical time to show love and justice in action.
Global Impact Month
Global Impact Month Celebrating the Lord's Work through the Baptist World Alliance2021 Global Impact MonthWhat a joy it is to serve alongside faithful Baptist brothers and sisters around the world! We greatly value your prayers and faithful partnership with us, and we...
Three Groanings
Based on Romans 8, Jonathan Wilson applies the three groanings within the story of God’s redemption to the context of COVID-19 and offers hope in the Spirit.
Leading the Church Beyond the Pandemic
From the context of devastated Philippines, Jerson Narciso examines how the body of Christ can meaningfully address emerging issues and concerns in the new normal.
New Staff Added to Horizons Team
In response to the substantial regional growth of the Horizons Children and Youth Ministry Training Initiative, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is pleased to announce the addition of three team members. Koffi Soké Kpomgbe will serve as Area Director for BWA Horizons Africa, and Baptist John Jaya Prakash will serve as Area Director for India (Telangana Region).
Baptist World Alliance Calls for Equitable Distribution of Vaccines
In response to the substantial regional growth of the Horizons Children and Youth Ministry Training Initiative, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is pleased to announce the addition of three team members. Koffi Soké Kpomgbe will serve as Area Director for BWA Horizons Africa, and Baptist John Jaya Prakash will serve as Area Director for India (Telangana Region).
Baptist World Alliance Appoints BWAid Director
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and his prophetic witness, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) calls upon the global family to pray and continue to pursue racial justice. Part of the BWA’s ongoing response includes the formation of a Racial Justice Action Group.
Baptist World Alliance Announces Racial Justice Action Group
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and his prophetic witness, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) calls upon the global family to pray and continue to pursue racial justice. Part of the BWA’s ongoing response includes the formation of a Racial Justice Action Group.
BWA Holistic Mission Guide Webinar Registration (Part 2)
Holistic Mission Webinar: Part Two Baptist World Alliance Webinar SeriesBWA Commission on MissionIn response to the global impact of COVID-19 on the mission of the church, the Baptist World Alliance developed and released a Holistic Mission Guide (request your free...
How to Implement a Digital Evangelism Strategy
How to Implement a Digital Evangelism Strategy Baptist World Alliance WebinarsBWA Department of Integral MissionWe live in a digital age, so how should the Church respond? In this session, we will explore why all churches should pursue the development of a digital...
Former Director of BWA Women’s Department, Beth Hayworth Echols, Passes Away at 96
Beth Hayworth Echols, former director of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Women’s Department and passionate advocate for her global neighbors, died December 10 at her home in McLean, Virginia, USA, at the age of 96.
Baptist World Alliance to Host Virtual World Congress
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is transitioning the 22nd Baptist World Congress to a fully virtual event on July 7-10, 2021. This decision was made in prayerful response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and as a result of collaborative discussions with global Baptist leaders.
Baptist World Alliance Begins Global Search for Aid Director
As Baptist World Aid (BWAid) celebrates its 100th year of ministry, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) announces a global search for the next Director of Baptist World Aid.
Resolution on Ministry to Refugees
The Baptist World Alliance General Council, meeting in Vancouver, Canada, July 6-8, 2016:
ACKNOWLEDGES the profound challenges created in many parts of our world by the massive flow of refugees and displaced persons,
Resolution Opposing Violence and Abuse of Women and Girls
The Baptist World Alliance General Council, meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, July 2-6:
AFFIRMS that women and girls are created in the image of God and invested with inestimable worth and dignity as gifts from God, and are essential to the health and vitality of families, churches, communities, and national life;
Prayer for Justice and Mercy for Nations and Peoples in Conflict
We express concern for nations and peoples who are caught in a terrible circle of hatred, violence, injustice, and suffering, who live in fear in police states where terrorist acts and military incursions are regular events.
We further recognize that the oppression and depravities by one group leads to anger and violence by the other which is then escalated by the first.
Establishing a League of Nations
The representatives of the Baptist World Alliance meeting in London, July 19th to 23rd, 1920, which Alliance has a constituency of eight million Church members, with an additional constituency of adherents several times that number, would submit this message to all the Peoples and Governments of the World.
Persecution of Baptists in Rumania
The Conference Places on record its profound concern at the grave reports of persecution from which our Baptist brethren in Rumania have suffered during the past eighteen months and even within recent weeks; and calls upon the Rumanian Government to undertake a thorough investigation into the facts, and to take decisive action to bring to an end all religious persecution within its territories
Religious Liberty and Soul Freedom
A resolution on Religious Liberty, drawn up by Dr. Clifford, President Mullins and Dr. Truett, was passed in the following form:—
“It is the sense of this body that in this period of reconstruction and readjustment in the civil and religious life of the nations of the world, following the world-war, it is of the highest importance that full religious liberty should be granted to all peoples who do not now enjoy it.
Cooperation with Mission Boards
The following resolutions were adopted on the recommendation of the Committee on Co-operation:—
We fully recognise that all the recommendations of the Conference are subject to the cardinal Baptist principle of the rights of the individual Church and of the consent of the various Baptist Unions and Conventions concerned.
Bibles and Baptist Literature
The following resolutions were passed on the recommendation of the Literature Committee:—
“That we realise the great need of Bibles and hymn-books, and that steps be taken to supply them.”
“That an attempt be made to produce simple literature for the children, including simple exposition and pictures.”
Baptist Seminaries for Europe
We regard an educational policy as of primary importance for the extension of the Baptist denomination in Europe, and we consider that the establishment or strengthening of Baptist seminaries for the training of pastors and evangelists should be undertaken without delay.
Religious Education of Children in the U.S.S.R.
56. Statements having been made by Drs. Franklin and Rushbrooke as to the position in Russia; agreed that Dr. Rushbrooke be instructed to prepare a resolution expressing support of his protest on the subject of the Russian Government’s attitude on the question of religious teaching of children. This resolution was formulated as follows:—
Rumania and Religious Freedom
10. Rumania. Resolved, after a statement by Dr. Rushbrooke, that the following resolution be sent to the Rumanian Government and afterwards published:—
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