Press Releases
Appreciation
This Council expresses its deepest appreciation:
• to the government of Argentina for its gracious welcome and its readiness to grant visas to all participants;
• to the officers and churches of the Convenciòn Evangèlica Bautista Argentina for the careful preparations, warm welcome, generous hospitality and interpretation service;
Youth Ministry
he BWA General Council welcomes the report of the Youth Executive Committee on the value of the Asian Youth Leadership Training Conference in Singapore last week.
With them we thank God for the enthusiasm and commitment of the youth leaders who shared in this cross- cultural experience. We also acknowledge the support of those Unions and Conventions which made it possible for so many to attend.
Human Rights-A Call to Action Against Torture
We reaffirm the fundamental Christian convictions expressed in Resolution 1983.4 of the Baptist World Alliance, adopted in July 1983 in the Republic of Argentina, namely that “human rights are God-given and that violations of human rights are violations of the laws of God.”
Appreciation
This Council expresses its deep appreciation to the Union of the Evangelical Free Churches s in Germany (Bund Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden in Deutschland), to the Baptist Churches of Berlin West and to the city authorities, for their welcome and generous hospitality and for their careful preparations for these Council meetings. We also thank the officers and staff of the Alliance for their commitment and organization which have insured the success of the meetings.
International Year of Youth
WE CALL UPON Baptists of the world, in cooperation with other Christians, to make one of their evangelistic goals the winning of a whole new generation of young people for Christ, by sharing with them the Gospel of hope as the only answer to the many problems and dangers facing them — nuclear threat, unemployment, drugs, hunger, poverty, materialism, racism, violence, etc.
Greetings
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in West Berlin, sends warm Christian greetings to the Lutheran World Federation meeting at the same time in Budapest. We pray for God’s blessing on your deliberations and on the work of your churches throughout the world.
Reaffirmation
While we acknowledge that there are strong cultural and theological differences about the role of women in the church, we wish to affirm the teaching of Galatians 3:28 that in Christ, male and female are equal.
We encourage the churches to affirm this truth in the life and thereby reflect integrity in our Christian witness.
The 10th Baptist World Youth Conference
We rejoice in the success of the 10th Baptist World Youth Conference recently held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
We strongly reaffirm the following message from the Conference addressed to Baptists of the world and commend its implementation in whatever way seems most appropriate:
Nuclear Arms
Once again WE EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND CONCERN over international tensions, the armed conflicts in certain regions, the economic burden of large armaments and armed forces, the threat of nuclear annihilation of humanity;
Process
The General Council recognizes the complexities of the issues faced by our world today. It is concerned that these be addressed adequately by the Alliance. The Executive of the Council is therefore requested to review major matters to be processed by the Resolutions Committee at its next meeting and to seek out competent persons who will be asked to submit proposed resolutions to be reviewed and where necessary revised by the Resolutions Committee for recommendation to the General Council.