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)
For ease of reference, click one of the buttons below to see resolutions in that category.
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Middle East
COMMENDS the leadership of USA President George W. Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas as well as the roles of the USA, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia in putting forth “The Road Map to Peace” that provides an opportune moment for all parties involved in the Middle East conflict;
Upheaval in Africa
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7-12, 2003:
COMMENDS the Christian churches and missions in Africa, especially the Baptist congregations, for their commitment to the Great Commission of Matthew 28, which has resulted in some of the most vibrant and fastest growing Christian communities in the world;
Appreciation
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Havana July 5-8, 2000
OFFERS sincere thanks to the Baptists of Cuba and the local congregations in Havana for their warm welcome and generous hospitality;
Congratulations to Former USA President, Jimmy Carter
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7-12, 2003:
RECOGNIZES the importance of the work of Baptists throughout the world, individually and collectively, to bring peace and justice to all of the people of God;
ACKNOWLEDGES the tireless efforts of former President Jimmy Carter to bring about peace and justice in the world;
Resolution on Conversations between Christian Communions
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, July 2-7, 2001
RECALLS with appreciation the interchurch conversations between the BWA and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (1969-1973), the Lutheran World Federation 1986-1989), the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity (1984-1988), and the Mennonite World Conference (1989-1992);
Christ the Living Water
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Seoul, South Korea, July 28-31, 2004:
REAFFIRMS its strong conviction that salvation is offered to the world through Jesus Christ alone by means of his life, death and resurrection and continuing mission;
EMPHASISES the crucial importance of personal conversion through the work of the Holy Spirit issuing in repentance, faith in Christ as saviour, baptism, incorporation into the church and the life of discipleship;
Nicaragua
The BWA General Council, meeting in Singapore, July 1986:
1. affirms its solidarity with the Nicaraguan Baptist Convention;
2. notes with pleasure that delegations of Baptists from various parts of the world have established personal and church links with our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua and encourages other Baptist Unions and Conventions to do the same;
On Religious Liberty
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7-12, 2003:
RECOGNIZES that every human being is of intrinsic worth, being created in the image of God and possessing the possibility of fellowship with the God of the universe;
AFFIRMS that one of the basic rights of each human being is the right to worship openly and freely according to the dictates of one’s own heart;
The Union Bautista Sud Americana
Thankful for the history of Baptist witness in South America and for those who have given leadership to the worldwide fellowship from this part of the world, we congratulate the churches, conventions, unions and assemblies on the foundation of the new regional fellowship, the Union Bautista Sud Americana.
Message to Baptist Churches Throughout the World
The Baptist World Alliance is a fellowship of almost 29 of the 33 million Baptists in the world. They represent many nations and widely differing cultures and ways of life and thought. It is neither within its power nor its function to direct, or rule on the internal affairs of the political or economic procedures of its constituent bodies or of their countries.
Testing of Nuclear Weapons
WHEREAS the Baptist World Congress, held in Tokyo in 1970, called for International “agreements for the limitation of both offensive and defensive strategic weapons” and for “immediate agreements to suspend the further deployment of all offensive and defensive nuclear strategic weapons systems, subject to national verification or such other measures of observation and inspection as may be appropriate,”
Human Rights
WHEREAS the Commission on Freedom, Justice, and Peace has for a number of years devoted some of its attention to the issues of human rights, we request the Commission to provide the 1978 BWA General Council such summary statement and guidelines as they deem appropriate.
Charismatic Movement
WHEREAS the Commission on Doctrine and Inter-Church Cooperation has for a number of years devoted some of its attention to the charismatic movement, we request the Commission to provide the 1978 BWA General Council such summary statement and guidelines for our Baptist fellowship as they deem appropriate.
Appreciation
WHEREAS the General Secretary and staff of the BWA have served the meeting with outstanding efficiency and courtesy, thereby facilitating the speedy and effective work of this Council,
Appreciation
BE IT RESOLVED that we show our appreciation to the Baptist people of Miami, especially the staff and congregation of the Central Baptist Church of Miami, and the Miami Baptist Association for their fine hospitality.
Peace Conference
5 MOTION was made, seconded, amended, and carried 36GC76 that the following resolution be adopted:
The General Council, having learned of the preparations to hold a World Conference in 1977, involving representation from all the major religions of the world, entitled “World Conference of Religious Workers for Lasting Peace, Disarmament, and Just Relations Among Nations,”
Food Aid as a Political Instrument
MOTION by W. A. Criswell was seconded, and carried 35GC76 that the following resolution be adopted:
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, believing that the feeding of the starving and the undernourished ought not to be limited to people whose governments are closely allied to donor governments, and recognizing that some governments have used, or have been under pressure to use relief,
Relief and Development Programs
MOTION by Roy Bell was seconded, and carried
34GC76 that the following resolution, and all pending amendments, be referred to the Executive Committee for consideration.
Since certain governments engage in programs of relief and development beyond their boundaries, and in so doing use their own and other governmental agencies, national voluntary agencies, but do not use international voluntary agencies; and
Appreciation
MOTION by W. A. Criswell was seconded, and carried 33GC76 that the following resolution be adopted:
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance resolves to place on record, as the European Office of the Baptist World Alliance is transferred from London, England, to Hamburg, Germany, its sincere and warm appreciation of the significant contribution made to the Baptist World Alliance by the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland from its inception and throughout its history,
Appreciation
MOTION was made and seconded, and carried
32GC76 that the following resolution be adopted:
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Melbourne, Australia, resolves
400th Anniversary of the Formation of the First Baptist Congregation
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, July 20-25, 2008;
Resolves to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the first Baptist congregation, formed in Amsterdam in 1609, by meeting for its next Annual Gathering in the Netherlands in 2009;
Evangelism and Contextualization of the Gospel
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, July 20- 25, 2008;
Gives thanks to God for the rich spiritual legacy of Reformers like Jan Hus and Petr Chelcicky whose witness still inspires Czech Baptist life which began one hundred and fifty years ago;
Ministry of Reconciliation
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, July 20- 25, 2008;
Expresses deep sadness and regret over religious and ethnic conflicts that claim many lives and create deep scars in different parts of the world;
Zimbabwe
The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, July 20- 25, 2008;
Rejoices in the work God is doing among his people in Zimbabwe and in particular through the Baptist churches in Zimbabwe;
Refugees and Immigration
BWA General Council Resolution 2008.7 The General Council of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, July 20- 25, 2008; Recognizes the global growth of refugee migration and international relocation with more than 67 million current refugees and...
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