DIDCOT, England (ABP) — Worldwide Baptists will continue with plans to meet July 27-31 in England, despite the “horror” caused by deadly bombings that struck London July 7.
British Baptists, who will play host to the Baptist World Congress in Birmingham in less than three weeks, voiced their desire “to stand alongside all those who are the victims of such brutality,” but confirmed plans for the meeting of Baptists worldwide will go on.
“When we gather in Birmingham as a family of world Baptists, it will give us an opportunity to pray together for our broken world and to show solidarity with all who suffer,” David Coffey, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said in a statement issued hours after the apparent terrorist attack.
Explosions on three subway trains and one bus in London killed at least 37 people and injured as many as 700 others during the morning commute Thursday. The number of casualties on the double-decker bus could not be immediately confirmed.
There was no warning and no immediate claim of responsibility for the coordinated attacks, police officials said, but the bombings — which occurred during a 26-minute span during rush hour — bore the marks of other terror attacks in New York and Madrid.
Between 10,000 to 15,000 Baptists from around the world are expected in Birmingham — 105 miles northwest of London — for the centenary meeting of the Baptist World Congress, marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Baptist World Alliance, a fellowship of 210 Baptist unions. The BWA was formed in Birmingham in 1905.
“The events that took place in London today fill us with horror, and our prayers go out to the bereaved and the injured, together with all those who are seeking to offer help and comfort, including the emergency services, security forces and chaplains,” Coffee said in a statement. “In a world of violence, where there is too little respect for life, we want to stand alongside all those who are the victims of such brutality, sharing their pain and anger, and embracing them with compassion.
“This is a time when we are called to answer the evil of violence with an unswerving commitment to the ways that make for peace and justice,” he continued. “We join our Christian hope with all who seek the common good at this critical time.”
Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, based near Washington, D.C., confirmed the congress will continue but declined immediate comment on details.
Many Baptists from the United States are expected to attend the meeting, which is held once every five years. Leaders from the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Baptist General Convention of Texas, both of which are in the process of becoming BWA members, said July 7 they are not modifying plans at this point and have not heard of any participants canceling.
Several Baptist student groups traveling in London at the time of the attack were confirmed to be unhurt, including groups from the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
There are 13 BWA member groups, with 17 million members, in the United States, including the American Baptist Churches, National Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The Southern Baptist Convention, largest Baptist body in the world, withdrew from the Baptist World Alliance last year.
— Contributing to this story were John Hall, Meghan Merchant and Robert Dilday.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.