WASHINGTON (ABP) — Concern for freedom and justice were on the minds of participants at two recent international Baptist meetings in Prague, Czech Republic.
Participants at meetings related to the Baptist World Alliance's annual gathering created a new office for global justice and issued a declaration of commitment to advocate for the world's marginalized, as well as a declaration of commitment to environmental concerns.
At their July 20-25 annual gathering, members of the BWA General Council established a division of freedom and justice. The office will address refugee and migrant issues and other social justice concerns that are affecting member bodies of the global umbrella organization for Baptist groups.
“We are all fellow sojourners in this world and … our treatment of the immigrants in our midst is central to authentic scriptural faith,” council members declared in a separate resolution on justice issues.
They noted that globally there are more than 67 million refugees and internally displaced persons and more than 191 million international migrants. They urged the world's Baptists to “freely share resources” and to “act as advocates” on behalf of migrants and refugees.
The resolution came against the background of increasing discrimination and even violence against refugees and migrants in several parts of the world.
The council passed a separate resolution to express specific concern for the Romani people — also known as Gypsies — in Italy. It decried the Italian government's recently instituted policy of fingerprinting all individuals of Romani descent.
Through the new division, BWA will bring justice issues to its members' attention and advocate at the United Nations on behalf of refugees and migrants.
Following the council's sessions, a related meeting of Baptist theologians and scholars also called their brothers and sisters to a broader commitment to social justice. In a declaration, they stressed concern for ecology and diversity.
Gathered July 26-29 for the seventh Baptist International Conference on Theological Education, Baptist educators, pastors, theologians and emerging leaders committed to “[u]phold the sacredness of all life.” Respecting and caring for God's creation “actively” demonstrates faith, participants declared.
Baptists should “welcome” the insights they can glean through the diversity already inherent in the cultures and contexts found in the “common Baptist way of life,” participants noted in the declaration.
Participants agreed to “seek repentance for our failure to advocate for those who are abused, impoverished and marginalized.” Then they promised to “prepare leaders” to help believers “live the Christian life, share the gospel and engage in works of justice.”