Declaration on Human Rights (Prepared by the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Freedom, Justice, and Peace and presented by the Commission's chairperson, William W. Pinson Jr., to the Congress on July 11, 1980.) We the Commission on Freedom, Justice, and Peace...
Advance, opportunity and achievement have characterized the past quinquennium of the Baptist World Alliance, 1985-1990. It has been a time in which the family of the Alliance has been blessed by gracious and capable leadership even as it has experienced times of sorrow.
Realizing that many of the world’s peoples are threatened by starvation caused by famine, war, and natural disaster, we recognize the gospel mandate for Christian people to be involved in meeting this urgent human need, and, therefore,
We encourage mission agencies and related church bodies to assist peoples to increase food production and to engage in teaching good nutrition, particularly where people are undernourished.
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.
“Race relations is one of the perplexing problems which the Christian Church must face in the world to- day. There are many conditions and attitudes which strain and impair human relations and cause great concern; but we cannot solve the problem unless we face it forthrightly as Christians.
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.
Dr. Prestridge : It falls to me and is my great pleasure to read these resolutions of thanks. I think that is fitting because for two or three months I have been in daily correspondence,—and sometimes three and four times a day,—with the various chairmen of the committees here, and I know of their labors, of their afflictions and of their patience:
The Baptist World Alliance, holding its sixteenth quinquennial Baptist World Congress in Seoul, Korea, during August 1990 has through this occasion brought together Baptists from around the world for worship, inspiration and fellowship, as well as discussion of evangelism and Baptist witness.
Recognizing that the world is far from achieving peace and justice and that vast sums are spent on armaments while much of the world goes hungry or suffers from lack of education and medical care,
We affirm that we stand for peace and reconciliation among all nations.
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.