from the

General Secretary NEVILLE CALLAM

Baptists Together in a Ministry of Compassion

When Baptists from 28 countries gathered in London, England, for the inaugural Baptist World Congress, one of the actions they took on the morning of July 17, 1905, was to approve a constitution for the organization they were creating. In agreeing on the terms of the constitution, participants in the

fledgling Baptist World Alliance reflected the desire of “general union(s), convention(s) or association(s) of Baptist churches” “to promote the spirit of fellowship, service and co-operation” among themselves. Since that first London Congress, all general Baptist

organizations that have sought and gained membership in the BWA have pledged to abide by the terms of their association with the worldwide body. These terms, which are determined by authorized representatives of member organizations, find their place in the BWA Constitution and Bylaws. It is this compact that supplies the parameters within which the BWA Executive Committee and staff serve. It is this covenant that makes the BWA a privileged instrument of Baptists worldwide who associate with each other through the organization. In regard to cooperative action, two of the emerging challenges

faced by the BWA currently result in part from trends originating in secular culture steeped in postmodernism. They also stem from the emergence within Baptist bodies of vital ministries that are only loosely connected with the conventions and unions themselves. The first challenge comes from the ongoing process of renegotiating the meaning of institutional membership that is taking place, especially in Western cultures. Some who once applied for membership in the BWA are now moving toward a process in which they self-identify, not as members, but as partners, of the organization. This implies a fresh understanding of the meaning of cooperation in BWA life. This new understanding hinges on prudential, rather than deontological, considerations. Whereas in the past, the assumption was that what BWA does is decided by its member bodies and that these participating organizations take responsibility for BWA’s ministry, the emerging paradigm is of member organizations, conceived as partners, only pledging support for those aspects of BWA’s life and ministry that are aligned to the partners’ priorities. In other words, some member bodies that participate in superintending the decision-making process in the BWA do not wish to take responsibility for what the organization does in faithfulness to the form of witness they have authorized. Instead, they are inclined to take responsibility for BWA action that happens to be consistent with the priorities of their own group. What is highly valued is the utility of the BWA for a partner’s own priorities. The second challenge is occasioned by the emergence of changing commitments of some management teams governing projects associated with BWA member organizations. Team members do not necessarily have strong convictions about the ecclesial connection of the “ministry” they lead. Not particularly enamored with any form of denominationalism, including positive denominationalism that affirms the catholicity of the church, these

4 BAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE

leaders sense the need to exercise a dominant influence on the way the worldwide Baptist organization fulfills the ministry it is as- signed. This desire by some representatives in BWA’s organized life is not balanced by a proper regard for the diversity that marks BWA’s life and the importance of following the principles that guide the exercise of oversight within the organization. These factors are partly responsible for

difficulties being experienced by those who have oversight responsibility for BWA’s day-to-day organized life. Leadership with integrity

entails showing due regard for

the policies established by the organization in which one serves. When change is anticipated, there is a process to be followed. This ensures that, when decisions are made by the body that engages in a responsible and transparent deliberative process, the ministry we fulfill can be saved from the distractions and intrigue that are not proper to the life of a Christian organization. In this volume of Baptist World, we focus on one ministry that Baptist conventions and unions in association with the BWA have voluntarily authorized and liberally supported over the years. Since the commencement of Baptist World

Aid (BWAid) in 1920, after the Great War of 1914-1918 ravaged much of Europe, Baptists worldwide have reached to care for people in need, especially after disasters of natural or human-made origin. And they have done this through BWAid. Long may this tradition continue! May we

Baptists continue to embrace ways of expressing solidarity with people in need that tend toward the flourishing of the essential oneness of Baptists worldwide. As we share with others in our Lord’s ministry, let us manifest the capacity to show compassion without sacrificing Baptist oneness on altars on which our faith is not firmly founded.