GLOBAL FORUM Urges Help for Persecuted Christians

Baptists, urged “all governments to respect and protect the freedom of religion and belief of all people as a fundamental human right.” In particular, participants made an “appeal to governments and international organizations to respect and protect Christians and all other people of goodwill from threats and violence committed in the name of religion.” Convened by the Global Christian Forum (GCF), media organizations and practitioners were encouraged by the gathering “to report in an appropriate and unbiased way on violations of religious freedom, including the discrimination and persecution of Christians as well as of other faith communities.” Educational institutions were asked “to develop opportunities and tools to teach young

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people in particular about human rights, religious tolerance, healing of memories and hostilities of the past, and peaceful means of conflict resolution and reconciliation.” It was impressed upon Christians and churches that every effort must be made to help support the persecuted, “to include more prominently in their daily prayers those who are discriminated against, persecuted, and suffering for the fulfilment of God’s Kingdom,” as well as to “learn, pray and work together in their localities for the persecuted to ensure they are better supported.” Where appropriate, Christians were to “engage more in dialogue and co-operation with

other faith communities” while at the same time “remaining vigilant, watchful, and fearless in the face of discrimination and persecution.” Anthony Peck, general secretary of the European Baptist Federation and Baptist World Alliance regional secretary for Europe, represented the BWA at the GCF meetings. He said “the marked increase in persecution and martyrdom in recent years, including

the horrific scenes of Christians being murdered by ISIL, has brought the whole Christian community together in solidarity and unity.” He called the event “probably one of the most representative gatherings of world Christian leaders possible.” Peck was referring to the broad appeal of the

GCF, which brings together Christians from confessional, ecumenical, evangelical, and Pentecostal/charismatic movements from across denominational, regional, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. “There is a huge diver- sity in the GCF,” Peck observed. It includes members of the World Council of Churches, the World Evangelical Alliance and the Pentecostal World Fellowship, in addition to parachurch organizations. GCF, which holds a global forum every four years, is aimed at creating contact

between

opportunities for Christians

and discussions of common concern.

Anthony Peck, Baptist World Alliance representative, speaks at the Global Christian Forum consultation on Discrimination, Persecution, Martyrdom in Tirana, Albania

(Photo courtesy of GCF)

global Christian consultation on persecuted Christians is calling for a comprehensive approach to tackling the problem of persecution. At a gathering in Tirana, Albania, in early November, 145 delegates, including

Delegates urged “all governments to respect and protect the freedom of religion and belief of all people as a fundamental human right.”

“The marked increase in

persecution and martyrdom in recent years, including the horrific scenes of Christians being murdered by ISIL, has brought the whole Christian community together in solidarity and unity.”

— Anthony Peck

JANUARY/MARCH 2016

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ALBANIA