Wednesday 24 Jul
Scott reflects on some confronting questions.
I’ve recently returned from Lagos, Nigeria, where I had the privilege of attending the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Annual Gathering.
Lagos is a densely populated city of more than 13.5million people and growing. Nigeria with a population of 230million people is Africa’s largest country. And the Nigerian Baptist Convention is now the largest body in the global Baptist alliance with more than 9million members.
Holding this gathering in Africa enabled many Baptist leaders from across this vast continent to attend, enriching this global meeting and importantly, amplifying global south leadership voices.
The theme of this year’s gathering was 'Ambassadors of Peace' – a timely theme in a world of brokenness, conflict, violence, climate crisis, food insecurity, persecution, war and religious nationalism. In such a world, in the local communities we live and serve in, we’re called by Jesus to live as peacemakers. We’re invited to bring the holistic peace of the Kingdom to people and planet.
25% of all Baptist people across the world live in contexts experiencing war, persecution and extreme hunger. And globally, one in three women have or are experiencing gender-based violence.
The gathering unanimously passed resolutions relating to the Middle East conflict, world hunger and the rise of religious nationalism. (Please be in contact with me if you would like to read copies of these resolutions.)
Beyond global challenges, attending a gathering like this forces you to address your personal call to live and serve as a peacemaker in a world where difference sadly all too often leads to disharmony and division.
When you get more than 400 people from 65 countries in a room - and throw in that they’re Baptists - you’re amid a very diverse bunch. Difference is all around you - be it language, skin colour, dress, equity, cuisine, theology, worship style or preferred football code. And given we were meeting in Africa, those who had the dance moves and those who didn’t (read me) were easy to spot!
In such a context, I was challenged again to consider my difference default. I was challenged to consider my response to people who don’t look like me, who don’t think like me, who come from a different cultural background, who don’t share my opinions and who arrive at different biblical views on some important issues.
Surrounded by difference, I’m confronted with challenging questions like:
- Do I genuinely celebrate diversity or seek to foster conformity?
- Do I focus on what unites or what divides?
- Do my actions and attitudes model respect or disrespect of people not like me?
- Am I committed to building bridges or strengthening barriers?
- Do I - as a Baptist - genuinely value liberty of conscience and the freedom of others to hold to different views?
- Will I champion the things I hold to passionately, but do so in a Christ-like way? And seek forgiveness for when I get this wrong?
- Will I accept the inherent power that comes with my gender, cultural background and being the leader of a western organisation?
- Will I intentionally seek to amplify the voices of women, global south and other minority leaders?
- Will I be courageous in confronting my own prejudice and racism?
- Will I repent of those things in my life and leadership that hinder genuine unity in the body?
All these questions are being answered in my life, one day at a time. I am a work in progress. And I desperately need the Holy Spirit to be continuing his renewing work within me if I am to live, love and lead more like Jesus and authentically accept others, as Christ calls me to do.
As I look at our deeply divided world, I am struck by Jesus’ calling to his followers to live as peacemakers and people who build loving and just community.
I come home from Africa enriched by the beautiful diversity of those I have gathered with. And challenged to humbly, yet intentionally, continue to shape circles where different voices are welcomed, heard, valued and celebrated.
That seems to me, to be the way of Jesus!
Grace and peace
Scott
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