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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Turkish Residence Permit for James Leeper
Whereas, The Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Monrovia, Liberia, July 30 to August 1, 1968, has learned that the Rever-end James Leeper, pastor of an English-speaking Baptist church in Ankara, Turkey, has been denied an extension of his residence permit,
Peace
Whereas, Peace is a Christlike characteristic and should be the personal goal of every Christian, expressing itself in one’s peace with God and with his fellowmen, and
World Relief
1. We the Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance in Monrovia, Liberia, July 30-August 1, 1968, are deeply concerned about the many people in the world who are presently suffering hunger and who are great need of other necessities of life. The alarming aspect of this situation is the fact that the number of those affected is growing constantly.
Adolfs Klaupiks
We the members of the Executive Committee gathered at the annual meeting in Liberia heartily express to Adolfs Klaupiks our brotherly gratitude for his service on the Relief Committee of the Baptist World Alliance for so many years.
Sir Donald Finnemore
Be it therefore resolved that we express our appreciation to Sir Donald Finnemore for his long and faithful service to the Baptist World Alliance, that we extend to him our gratitude for the portrait of Dr. Clifford, and that we request that the General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance communicate to Sir Donald Finnemore these expressions of the Executive Committee.
Evangelism
Be it therefore resolved that we renew our consecration to the work of evangelism, evangelism being understood to involve both the redemption of the individual, that individual’s growth in Christian character and service, and his involvement as a Christian in the broad spectrum of the life of his total environment.
Appreciation
That we express our deepest gratitude to Dr. William R. Tolbert, Jr., President of the Baptist World Alliance, Vice President of Liberia, and Presi-dent of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, and Mrs. Tolbert for being the perfect host and hostess, and
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance takes note with deep sorrow of the violent death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior. They recall with thanksgiving his strong compassion for the underprivileged and oppressed, his unshakable courage in the pursuit of what he believed to be right, and his advocacy of a non-violent solution to evils and injustices in society.
Relief to Nigeria
Recognizing the tragic needs of Nigeria at this time, the Executive Com-mittee of the Baptist World Alliance resolves to send the sum of $6,000 to help meet the needs of suffering people in Nigeria, as a first step. While acknowledging the sacrificial giving of some of its member bodies already to this cause through other agencies, the Executive Committee resolves to appeal immediately to all member bodies of the BWA to respond now to the present Nigerian crisis, by sending all available gifts to the BWA Relief Committee for this purpose.
World Relief and Rehabilitation
1. We the Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance in Baden near Vienna, Austria, August 2-6, 1969, are deeply concerned about the continuing need of the many people in the world who are suffering hunger and who are in need of necessities of life.
Support of Bible Societies
Whereas we give thanks to Almighty God for cooperation with other Chris-tian bodies in the areas of translation and Bible distribution and regard this as the evident workings of the Holy Spirit in our age; and,
The Absence of Our Cuban Brothers
Whereas die Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance is composed of members from Conventions and Unions of 68 countries in which a variety of opinions and policies are currently held, we thank God for the universal fellowship and brotherhood evident in the associations of the Baptist World Alli- ance, and
Communication with Eastern European Countries
1. We the Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Baden near Vienna, Austria, August 2-6, 1969 recognize with gratitude to God the presence of delegations from the following Eastern European countries: Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, U.S.S.R., Yugoslavia.
Appreciation
We the members of the Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Baden, 2-6 August 1969, resolve:
That we declare our sincere appreciation to the civic authorities of Baden for their ready co-operation and to Reisebüro Mondial, particularly to the director Mr. R. Kadanka, for their courtesy and service,
Peace
lutions ought to have been distributed among the Committee members, especially for those whose mother tongue was not English. Gill shared his concern and added that he wished a resolution had been included on race. Tulles felt also that documents should have been distributed. Nordenhaug explained that due to technical difficulties there had been no opportunity to have the resolutions duplicated.
Appreciation
The Relief Committee of the Baptist World Alliance records its sincere appreciation of the signal service rendered by Dr. R. Dean Goodwin during the years of his chairmanship of the Committee. His guidance of the Com-mittee’s effort was marked by the spirit of Christian compassion for human suffering, tragedy and need; by a thorough knowledge of our Baptist World agencies and of the resources of Christian aid available through these.
Gratitude
Mrs. Helen Fling, Chairman of the Resolutions Committee appointed on Thursday night, presented the following:
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the BWA Executive Committee, publicly express gratitude:
Gratitude
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we all return to our countries to dedicate ourselves afresh to the service of God, to the proclamation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to be agents of the reconciling love of God to all men everywhere.
Peace with Justice
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, as we thank God for His peace that passes all understanding being unfolded by His grace in our personal lives, we pledge ourselves to work faithfully as instruments of His peace for the things that make for peace—justice, truth, and righteousness—to the furtherance of the great goal of peace on earth and good will among men.
World Food Situation
In view of the alarming world food situation threatening multitudes of the world’s population with famine and starvation, and recognizing the gospel mandate for Christian people to meet such urgent human need:
Appreciation
EC74 that our sincere appreciation to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. McCall, the staff, students, and others who helped, be expressed in the Minutes of this meeting.
Resignation of the United States President
BWA Executive Committee Resolution 1974-08.3 The Executive meeting was interrupted Thursday evening (August 8) to watch a television broadcast of Richard M. Nixon’s resignation as president of the United States. Following the broadcast, M. L. Wilson led in prayer for...
Resolutions Submitted by Outside Groups
BWA Executive Committee Resolution 1974-08.4 Ronald Goulding reported that a copy had been received from Ronald Watts of Canada of a resolution on “Torture and Human Rights” that had been passed by the Baptist Convention of Ontario at their General Assembly. Since...
Resolution on Religious Liberty in the USA
The Baptist World Alliance General Council, meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, July 5-7, 2017:
AFFIRMS freedom of religion and belief as a core value borne out in Baptist history and opposes all forms of discrimination based on faith or religion;
Resolution on the Humanitarian Crisis in Venezuela
The Baptist World Alliance General Council, meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, July 5-7, 2017:
STATES its concerns at the climate of political and social instability and violence in Venezuela, which has led to deteriorating socio-economic conditions, including a shortage of food and medicines;
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