We, the delegates of the Eleventh Baptist World Alliance Congress held at Miami Beach, Florida, June 25-30, 1965, offer thanks to our Heavenly Father for the privilege of fellowship with Baptists gathered from the nations of the world. We are grateful, not alone for new light and truth which have broken forth from the Word of God, but for the restatement of those things most surely believed among us.
In these days of tension and concern for the destiny of all mankind, we Baptists appeal to all Christians to join together to preserve peace on earth.
We must answer the call “to seek peace and pursue it.” The things that belong to “Thy peace” must be found. No nation wins a nuclear war—all are defeated. As much as one hundred and twenty billions of dollars are being spent yearly on armaments and armed forces by the nations of the world.
The Tenth Congress of the Baptist World Alliance reaffirms its belief in the separation of the church and its institutions from the state.
We urge the nations to dispense with all testing of nuclear weapons and the production of the same; and co-operatively, to agree on satisfactory methods of inspection designed to ensure that all nations shall exercise good faith in this matter.
We urge the nations to dispense with all testing of nuclear weapons and the production of the same; and co-operatively, to agree on satisfactory methods of inspection designed to ensure that all nations shall exercise good faith in this matter.
That this Eleventh Congress of the Baptist World Alliance affirms its belief in both the brotherhood of all Christians and the equality of all men under God, regardless of race or social position, and that we accept our responsibility as Baptists to take a full share in solving the un-Christlike distinctions of our societies, wherever they are.
That the members of the Congress accept the challenge presented in his Presidential Address by Dr. Joao Soren to a new thrust of Christian witness, evangelism, and service throughout the world. Believing this to be one of the greatest needs of our time in every continent they call upon their fellow Baptists to join them in united sacrificial endeavor in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
WE REAFFIRM our faith that the gospel of God’s free salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, is for all men, without distinction, and that today as in previous generations it speaks to man’s every need, convicting, redeeming, transforming, guarding the human spirit and requiring the ending of exploitation and tyranny, and the provision of full opportunities for its free acceptance and for worship, witness, and service.
We believe that all people of the world have one Father and that one God has created us all and that it is God’s will that all of His people should share in the conditions that provide for freedom, self- determination, technical knowledge, and the materials necessary to the life of persons whom God has created to fulfil His purposes.