August 10, 2020 | 1970 Congress Resolutions, Resolutions, World Congress Resolutions
BWA World Congress Resolution 1970.4
The Twelfth Baptist World Congress, meeting in Tokyo, Japan, during July 12-18, 1970, notes with deep concern the continuing and increasing lack of economic self-sufficiency suffered by the majority of the inhabitants of the world, particularly those who are citi-zens of the developing countries.
Notwithstanding the vast technological advances which have brought an environment of abundance to one-third of the human race, the other two-thirds—more than two thousand million individuals—are still suppressed by the limitations created by past failures and present circumstances. Consequently they have not been able to make the transition to self-sustaining economic growth. Life for them is held in the confines of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, illiteracy, and disease.
The gap between the richer and poorer countries is already a chasm which widens with compounded acceleration. While Western countries enjoy per capita incomes rising to the $3,500 range, their fellows in the developing countries struggle for survival on per capita incomes of less than $100.
Most of mankind, denied sufficient food, clothing, education, shelter, and medical care, is unable to sustain basic human dignity or find opportunities for self-fulfillment. The population explosion adds to the dimensions of this human tragedy for each successive generation.
This Congress affirms that the Christian gospel is the declaration of the Divine purpose and provision for man in the totality of his being as expressed in our Lord’s manifesto recorded in part in Luke 4:18 (RSV): “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. . .”
It calls upon the wealthy nations of the world to give priority to the interests of all humanity, to increase aid in all practical forms to the developing countries, and to set as a minimum objective to be attained with all possible haste the provision of such aid to the level of at least one percent of the gross national product from each.
This Congress calls upon all Baptists, according to their abilities and opportunities, to further the program of economic justice both by their influence as citizens and by their support of Baptist World
BWA World Congress Resolution 1970.4
Relief and the work of other worthy voluntary agencies providing economic aid and development services.
Citations
Original Source Bibliography: Bryant, Cyril E., editor. Reconciliation Through Christ: Official Report of the Twelfth Congress, Tokyo, Japan, July 12-18, 1970. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1971.
Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Cyril E. Bryant, ed., Reconciliation Through Christ: Official Report of the Twelfth Congress, Tokyo, Japan, July 12-18, 1970 (Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1971), pp. 253-254.
Online Document Full Citation: BWA World Congress Resolution 1970.4 Economic Justice; https://o7e.4a3.myftpupload.com/resolutions.
In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA World Congress 1970.4).
August 10, 2020 | 1970 Council Resolutions, Resolutions, World Congress Resolutions
BWA World Congress Resolution 1970.3
We, the representatives of the Baptist World Alliance assembled in Tokyo in July, 1970, acknowledge that . . .
In this world we are called to be fellow workers with God in fulfilling his creative intention. The possibilities which he has placed in his creation wait upon us for their fulfillment. They provide an area in which we may exercise our God-given creative freedom and be truly God’s sons.
We acknowledge the sinfulness of our torn humanity. We have too often prostituted scientific knowledge to our own ends and used our technology to exploit the natural order for private and public greed.
We urge all men of good will to mend the ravages which we have inflicted and we are inflicting on our natural resources—air, water, plant life, and animal life. We would encourage all efforts, public and private, which are activated by such a concern.
We believe that God wills the blessing of good health for all his children and that all healing gifts come from God. We urge special attention to be given to the allocation of these healing gifts so that the world’s poor and forgotten people shall receive their just share.
We support all efforts which are rooted in the biblical concept of the sanctity of life and the integrity of human personality to limit the population of the earth.
We would, above all, urge our churches to place the gospel of Christ in the center, knowing that ultimately only in and through him and men’s acknowledgement of him, can the greed and selfishness of arrogant sinful man be dealt with effectively.
We would, however, declare our conviction that as Christians we are called upon to play our part not only in redeeming men but also in supporting all efforts to prevent the further destruction of our natural environment and to return nature to that balanced ecology that the Creator intended. We do this always with our eyes upon the ultimate consummation in Christ when God’s full purpose shall stand complete.
Citations
Original Source Bibliography: Bryant, Cyril E., editor. Reconciliation Through Christ: Official Report of the Twelfth Congress, Tokyo, Japan, July 12-18, 1970. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1971.
Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Cyril E. Bryant, ed., Reconciliation Through Christ: Official Report of the Twelfth Congress, Tokyo, Japan, July 12-18, 1970 (Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1971), pp. 252-253.
Online Document Full Citation: BWA World Congress Resolution 1970.3 Man’s Stewardship and Survival on This Earth; https://o7e.4a3.myftpupload.com/resolutions.
In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA World Congress 1970.3).
August 8, 2020 | 2014 Resolutions, General Council Resolutions, Resolutions
BWA General Council Resolution 2014.4
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Izmir, Turkey, July 9-11, 2014:
ACKNOWLEDGES that every human being is created in the image of God and thereby has an intrinsic value to God and to the world (Genesis 1:26-27);
AFFIRMS that God calls all people to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8);
RECOGNIZES that Jesus commands us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves as a model of practicing justice in the world today (Mark 12:33);
ENDORSES transparency and integrity in all aspects of public life as called for by the Exposed Campaign, a faith-based call to end corruption in government and business sectors; and
JOINS with brothers and sisters in various faith communities, including the World Council of Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance, in signing this public letter to the leaders of the G20 nations meeting in Brisbane, Australia in November 2014:
We, the leaders of faith based communities, issue this letter calling for integrity and transparency in public life.
We are part of the global EXPOSED campaign representing a billion people in 170 nations taking a stand against greed, secret deals and abuse of public influence, which happens everywhere and affects the poorest most. In 2010 developing countries lost around US$850 billion to illicit financial flows and tax evasion associated with trade mis-pricing costs developing countries $160bn a year. The lives of 230 little children could be saved every day if corruption issues were addressed and much needed funds were released for development.
As faith leaders, we repent of any practices that may have contributed to corruption, and mend our ways. And we call on G20 governments which have influence over nearly all multinationals operating around the globe, to promote greater transparency in their financial affairs.
[Previously], G20 finance leaders [had] the chance to address bribery and tax evasion in multinational companies and government officials. In November, government leaders could
BWA General Council Resolution 2014.4
endorse those measures in an historic meeting in Australia. It is our prayer that as you fulfil the G20’s mandate, the policies that you formulate will restore fairness and prevent greed.
ENCOURAGES all Baptist churches, conventions and unions to practice justice, accountability and transparency in all our dealings;
URGES all Baptists to call attention to corruption that can, and does, expose people to unnecessary suffering; and
CALLS UPON Baptists around the world to take action to combat corruption at every level in keeping with the biblical command to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.
Citations
Original Source Bibliography: Callam, Neville, editor. Baptist World Alliance 2014 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory. Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2014.
Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Neville Callam, ed., Baptist World Alliance 2014 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory (Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2014), pp. 140- 141.
Online Document Full Citation: BWA General Council Resolution 2014.4 Corruption; https://o7e.4a3.myftpupload.com/resolutions.
In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA General Council Resolution 2014.4).
August 8, 2020 | 2013 Resolutions, General Council Resolutions, Resolutions
BWA General Council Resolution 2013.7
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Ocha Rios, Jamaica, July 1-6, 2013:
ACKNOWLEDGES that more than two decades have passed since the end of the Cold War, and that most negative manifestations of that struggle have been ameliorated, except for the continuing USA embargo against Cuba begun in 1960;
AFFIRMS that the embargo does not serve the interests of the USA, Cuba or the international family of nations, much less so the interests of the Body of Christ in general, and the Baptist family, in particular; and
RECALLS the resolution it adopted at its meetings in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in 1992 and in Havana, Cuba, in 2000, calling upon governments “to remove economic sanctions relating to food and medicines” and “to reconsider the appropriateness of the use of economic sanctions in the effort to encourage changes in political situations;”
NOTES that several Baptist bodies in the USA, including two US conventions affiliated with the BWA – the American Baptist Churches USA and the Progressive National Baptist Convention – have been on record for more than two decades in opposition to the embargo; and
RECOGNIZES that annually, over the past 21 years, the United Nations General Assembly has voted – nearly unanimously – for an end to the embargo;
RECALLS the widely held belief that the lifting of the embargo will improve living conditions for Cubans and provide greater opportunities for commerce, education, and travel;
INVITES the member organizations of the Baptist World Alliance to stand in solidarity with Cuban Baptists who have been negatively impacted by this embargo;
COMMENDS the progress in the relationship between the USA and Cuba and urges the US government to lift all remaining restrictions on travel to Cuba by US citizens and
end the embargo against Cuba and re-establish formal diplomatic relations with the Cuban government; and
CALLS UPON the governments of USA and Cuba to set in place a process for negotiating legitimate bilateral grievances.
Citations
BWA General Council Resolution 2013.7 End to United States of America (USA) Embargo on Cuba
Original Source Bibliography: Callam, Neville, editor. Baptist World Alliance 2013 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory. Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2013.
Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Neville Callam, ed., Baptist World Alliance 2013 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory (Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2013), pp. 142- 143.
Online Document Full Citation: BWA General Council Resolution 2013.7 End to United States of America (USA) Embargo on Cuba; https://o7e.4a3.myftpupload.com/resolutions.
In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA General Council Resolution 2013.7).
August 8, 2020 | 2013 Resolutions, General Council Resolutions, Resolutions
BWA General Council Resolution 2013.2
BWA General Council Resolution 2013.2 Gratitude for Life and Ministry of George Liele
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, July 1-6, 2013:
RECOGNIZES George Liele as the first ordained black Baptist minister in America and a pioneer leader of Black churches in the USA of America;
ACKNOWLEDGES George Liele, founder of the First African Baptist Church in America and leader of churches in South Carolina and Georgia, who contributed to the development of church leaders including David George, Jessie Peters and Andrew Bryan in USA, and others in Africa, the Caribbean and Great Britain;
NOTES that George Liele evacuated with the British after the American Revolutionary War and, while many remained enslaved, he chose to migrate to Jamaica with his wife Hannah and their four children and ministered there for over forty years; and
LAUDS George Liele as the first Baptist missionary, ten years before William Carey sailed for India and thirty-three years before Adoniram Judson sailed for Myanmar; and
RECALLS that George Liele planted the first Baptist church in Jamaica, with membership drawn from both enslaved and free persons who had not been exposed to an ordained Black minister of the Gospel;
COMMENDS George Liele who, along with fellow American missionary, Moses Baker, whom he baptized, maintained correspondence with Dr. John Rippon and other Baptists and, together with other Ethiopian Baptists, including Parson Kellick, Thomas Swigle, George Gibb, George Vineyard, Miss Cooper and George Lewis, worked for the flourishing of the cause of Christ among the Jamaican people; and
OFFERS thanks and praise to God for the life and ministry of George Liele and places on record its gratitude to God for the remarkable life and legacy of this pioneer of Baptist mission.
Citations
BWA General Council Resolution 2013.7 End to United States of America (USA) Embargo on Cuba
Original Source Bibliography: Callam, Neville, editor. Baptist World Alliance 2013 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory. Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2013.
Original Source Footnote/Endnote: Neville Callam, ed., Baptist World Alliance 2013 Yearbook: Minutes of the General Council Meeting and Directory (Falls Church, VA: Baptist World Alliance, 2013), pp. 142- 143.
Online Document Full Citation: BWA General Council Resolution 2013.7 End to United States of America (USA) Embargo on Cuba; https://o7e.4a3.myftpupload.com/resolutions.
In-text Online Document Citation: (BWA General Council Resolution 2013.7).
