January 20, 1999
BWA calls for decade of racial justice
___By Bob Allen
___Associated Baptist Press
___ATLANTA (ABP)--Meeting amid symbols of America's struggle for civil rights, an international gathering of Baptists last week issued a call for churches to combat racism and ethnic strife worldwide.
___Delegates from 30 countries attended an International Summit of Baptists Against Racism, held Jan. 8-11 in Atlanta. It was sponsored by the Baptist World Alliance, a worldwide fellowship of Baptist unions and conventions based in Washington.
___The summit was held at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, home church of civil-rights figure Martin Luther King Jr., with sessions also at the nearby Wheat Street Baptist Church, King's alma mater Morehouse College and the Carter Presidential Center, where participants were greeted by former President Jimmy Carter.
___Delegates drafted and affirmed a lengthy statement declaring a "decade to promote racial justice" beginning in 2000 and urging BWA member unions to promote efforts to eradicate racism and fight against ethnic conflict worldwide.
___The "Atlanta Covenant" calls on Baptists to become "agents of reconciliation" and work for integrated worship, holistic evangelism, the elimination of unfair trade and protection of the rights of aboriginal and tribal peoples. It also affirms the various cultural expressions of Christianity and calls on churches to repent for complicity in racism and ethnic conflict.
___A resolutions section affirms racial justice as "an integral part" of the gospel, promotes economic development as a means of achieving racial justice and cautions against use of only religious images that portray Jesus as a white man.
___"We recognize that the almost exclusive use of white images of Jesus has limited our understanding of and witnessing to the incarnation," the declaration says. It recommends that Baptist publishing houses "use multi-racial images and idioms throughout their worship and educational materials" and urges churches of different races and ethnic groups to celebrate significant events and communion together.
___Another resolution rejects paternalism by international missionaries toward indigenous peoples.
___"We note with appreciation the rich heritage of Baptist commitment to international mission," the covenant resolution states. "Notwithstanding the noble intentions, sincere motives and significant contributions in the areas of education, health and church planting; we note that racism has tainted these efforts, and expressed itself in the forms of paternalism, and the manipulation of resources has caused much pain and frustration."
___More on President Carter's comments
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