BWA resolutions 'address timely issues facing the global Church' 

Resolutions relating to empowering and caring for people with disabilities and special needs, serving vulnerable children, integral and polycentric mission and just peace have been approved by the Baptist World Alliance (BWA)

Delegates to the BWA Global Council approved the four resolutions during their 8 July meeting, held in conjunction with the 2026 BWA Annual Gathering in Toronto, Canada. 

The resolutions 'address timely issues facing the global Church while reaffirming biblical convictions and the Baptist commitment to human dignity, compassion, justice, and faithful witness,' said the BWA. 

They are: 

Empowering and Caring for People with Disabilities and Special Needs: Recognizing that people with disabilities and special needs are indispensable members of the body of Christ, the resolution calls Baptist churches worldwide to cultivate communities of welcome, accessibility, and mutual care. It encourages congregations to remove barriers to participation and to affirm, equip, and empower every person to use their God-given gifts in ministry and service.

Read the full text here


Serving Vulnerable Children:
Acknowledging the immense challenges facing children affected by poverty, displacement, violence, exploitation, and family separation, the resolution reaffirms the BWA’s longstanding commitment to protecting and serving vulnerable children. It encourages churches to expand ministries that provide hope, compassion, advocacy, and practical support while reflecting Christ’s special love for children.

Read the full text here


Integral and Polycentric Mission as Guiding Missional Principles:
Affirming that God’s mission remains central to the life and witness of the Church, the resolution identifies integral and polycentric mission as guiding principles for Baptist engagement in the world. It calls the global Baptist family to embrace holistic Gospel witness through collaborative partnerships that recognize the diverse gifts, voices, and leadership present throughout the worldwide Church.

Read the full text here


Just Peace and Accountability Among Nations:
Grounded in the biblical call to peacemaking and reconciliation, the resolution reaffirms the BWA’s historic commitment to justice, human dignity, and religious freedom. It encourages nations, institutions, and individuals to pursue accountable leadership, uphold human rights, and work toward a just and flourishing peace for all people.

Read the full text here


The resolutions were submitted by the BWA Resolutions Committee following consultation with Baptist leaders from around the world.

'Throughout this week, we have continued the work of the committee in partnership with the global family, listening carefully to the feedback and recommendations received from Global Council members to ensure these resolutions reflect both the diversity of our global Baptist family and the unity of our shared mission,' said Dawari George, BWA Resolutions Committee chair. 

'Taken together, these four resolutions speak to some of the defining opportunities facing the global Church today. They call us to welcome every member of Christ’s body. They call us to protect the most vulnerable among us. They call us to renew our commitment to God’s global mission, and they call us to pursue peace with courage and conviction.'

The BWA Global Council is composed of member partners from Baptist conventions, unions, and organisations across the worldwide Baptist family. 

Resolutions adopted by the Global Council 'seek to express the collective convictions of the global Baptist fellowship, offering biblical guidance, encouragement, and a united witness on matters of significance for the Church and society,' said the BWA. 

Challenges in the Middle East panel 

General Secretary Lynn Green hosted a session at the BWA Annual Gathering that featured a panel with four delegates from the Middle East reflecting on the situation in Lebanon, Syria, Israel Palestine and the impact on the wider church in the region.

Lynn is the BWA's Vice Chair (2025-2030), having been appointed last year.

The panel delegates were Siham Daoud (Lebanon); Munir Kakish (Israel and Palestine); Charlie Costa (Lebanon) and Botrus Mansour (Israel).

The discussion encouraged dialogue, understanding, and a Christ-centred response to the challenges facing the region.

Charlie, President of the European Baptist Federation, highlighted how the recent visit of a BWA delegation headed by General Secretary Elijah Brown to the Middle East saw some positive steps forward with government.

Botrus, the General Secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance, was also the speaker at the evening worship celebration.  

He shared from Romans 15:1–7 on the topic, “All Sitting at the Table of Christ”, and challenged the global Baptist family with a memorable BWA acronym:

• B – Build One Another
• W – Welcome One Another
• A – Advance One Another
   

For more on the 2026 BWA Annual Gathering, whose theme was At the Table of Christ - One Gospel, Many People, visit the BWAToronto2026 album on Facebook

Image | Tyndale University Chapel in Toronto, where the global Baptist family worshipped, prayed, learned during the 2026 annual gathering