BWA: THE LAST 5 YEARS n BWA: THE LAST 5 YEARS n BWA: THE LAST 5 YEARS n BWA: THE LAST 5 YEARS n

Intra-Baptist Covenant THE IMPORTANCE of the

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uring this quinquennium, the process was completed leading to the affirmation of a Covenant on Intra-Baptist Relations that gives expression to how the Baptist World

Alliance desires oneness as Baptist Christians drawn from diverse cultures and nations to be expressed. This is perhaps the most important work undertaken in

BWA since the Twenty-First Century Report. Those who share in the deliberations of BWA meetings are encouraged to keep before them the values enshrined in the covenant. Those who detect a failure by participants in BWA’s organized life to abide by the agreed standards find courage to quietly counsel with offenders in this regard. BWA is a global fellowship of churches that share a common

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heritage and vocation to express the oneness of Baptist people in Jesus Christ. Whenever any member organization or group of

Bringing Baptists Together Continued Scenes from the 2013 Baptist Youth World Conference in Singapore

among Baptist Christians drawn neness from diverse cultures and nations

member organizations believes it is its right to impose upon the BWA the values and opinions it holds in common while other member bodies or group of member bodies remain unconvinced by the views being advanced, disharmony and disequilibrium will mark the landscape of the organization’s life. If, in keeping with the Covenant on Intra-Baptist Relations, we are deeply and irrevocably committed to the search for consensus or at least convergence, the movement will thrive and flourish. As Henri Nouwen has said, “With poverty of heart, we can receive the

experience of others as a gift to us. Their histories can creatively connect with ours, their lives give new meaning to ours, and their God speak to us in mutual revelation.” Stubborn insistence that does not sufficiently value the unity of the whole has created division in Baptist churches, conventions and unions. With God’s help, the BWA may be spared that sad experience.

Churches Union of Congo (DRC) and the Evangelical Baptist Church of the Central African Republic (2011); the Free Baptist Churches of Burundi and the Reformed Baptist Convention of Rwanda (2012); the Baptist Church of Congo (DRC), Connection of Haitian Baptist Churches for Integral Mission, the Convention of Independent Baptist Churches (Brazil), the Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands Baptist Union (2013); the Baptist Community in Central Africa (DRC), the Baptist Community of the Faithful in Africa (DRC), Chin Baptist Churches USA and the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Ethiopia (2014).

6 BAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE

BAPTIST RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships among Baptists received special attention during the past quinquennium. The BWA was a major catalyst in bringing together Baptist groups that had never previously or had rarely met or cooperated with each other in Haiti, Bangladesh, Brazil and Ethiopia. The BWA and its regional bodies made progress in reconciliation among Baptists in Kenya, Liberia, India and elsewhere.