It was a rich and joyful experience to join with Baptist leaders from more than 65 countries at last month’s Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering in Toronto, Canada.

The theme of the gathering was ‘The Table of Christ – One Gospel, Many People’.  Toronto, now recognised as the most multicultural city in the world, was a very appropriate host venue as we celebrated the diversity of the global Baptist movement, our unity in Christ, and the challenge to ensure those often marginalised are welcomed at the table.

Before the main gathering commenced, I attended the second BWA Leadership Council meeting, the new body that has been formed to provide strategic leadership and visioning for our global movement. The Council has 30 members from across the globe. I am joined on the Council from Australia by Darrell Jackson, the Principal of Whitley College in Melbourne.

During the week there were meetings of the BWA Global Council, as well as ministry-focused networks and commissions, worship and prayer, plenary sessions and panel discussions. At the gathering the BWA’s campaign to stand against gender-based violence was also given special attention, along with peacemaking and advocacy work in the Middle East. Baptist Convention of Mongolia was welcomed into the global family, and we heard an amazing report of the Spirit at work in that country. 

It was very encouraging to host a well-attended Global Baptist Mission Network seminar focused on “Mission in Culturally and Religiously Diverse Communities”. One of our team members Rema, based in India, presented in this session, sharing on our organisation’s contextual mission approach. Rema was joined by presenters and panellists from Canada, Lebanon, Estonia, Togo and Jamaica.

During the gathering, four resolutions were adopted by the Global Council, including one that I co-drafted on integral and polycentric mission. Through a collaborative process of theological reflection, careful editing and shared discernment, the resolution process seeks to faithfully reflect Scripture and express the shared voice of the worldwide Baptist community on important matters.

The resolutions adopted at last month’s gathering focus on:

• Affirming people living with disabilities and special needs are an indispensable part of the body of Christ, created in the image of God and uniquely gifted for ministry and service.
• Our shared need to protect and serve children, who are among the most vulnerable members of our global community – facing poverty, displacement, violence, exploitation, and the loss of family at staggering levels.
• Calling on our global Baptist movement to embrace integral and polycentric mission as a shared framework for participation in God’s mission in the world.
• Reaffirming the importance of Christ-like peacemaking and the pursuit of human rights for all people, against the backdrop of increasing global conflict, religious nationalism and power-based dominion.

You can read the full resolution, and the other statements in full here >> 

Across the world, in the places we serve and the partners we walk alongside, these resolutions have relevance for us, particularly in our ongoing commitment to develop integral and polycentric mission approaches. It’s also encouraging to reflect on the resolutions given the ministries we engage in alongside people living with disabilities, children in vulnerable settings and our increased engagement in peacemaking.

One of the most moving sessions during the gathering was when two parents shared about their children living with disabilities, their desire to be fully involved in the life of their local churches, and how faith communities can be more welcoming and inclusive of people living disabilities and special needs. 

It was a good experience working alongside the BWA Director of Integral Mission Everton Jackson in drafting the integral and polycentric mission resolution, which is then put through an editing and discerning process by the BWA Resolutions Committee.

The resolution is strongly aligned with the directions Baptist Mission Australia is moving in as a mission community, and I would encourage you to take some time to read and reflect on the statement and its relevance and challenge both at your local church level, as well in our shared global mission engagement.

Here is an extract from the mission resolution.

WHEREAS, significant changes in world Christianity, the global Baptist family, and continuing power imbalances between mission agencies, call for an intentional and prayerful consideration about innovative polycentric approaches to mission strategy, structures, collaboration, and use of resources (BWA General Council Resolution 2000.1 Global Mission) ….

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the BWA affirms integral and polycentric mission as guiding missional principles for its life and work.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the BWA commits to:

Foster Collaborative Leadership: encouraging a humble, learning, listening, collaborative leadership posture, which recognizes the unique gifts, strengths, and perspectives each brings to global mission.

Promote Integral Witness: integrating evangelism, discipleship, justice, compassion, reconciliation, alleviation of poverty and oppression, and care for creation in all aspects of mission, reflecting the fullness of the Gospel.

Promote Contextual Mission Practice: encouraging our global movement to deepen their understanding and practice of contextual mission approaches, which enable people to experience the good news of Jesus in ways that make sense in their context, culture, and language. Further, we humbly commit to learning from past approaches that disempowered the development of local, relevant mission practice.

Strengthen Partnership and Networking: building collaboration and networks among mission agencies and enterprises and encouraging partnerships among churches, conventions, and organizations that embody these principles, working together for the transformation of individuals and societies.

Encourage Theological Reflection and Leadership Resourcing: Facilitating and encouraging ongoing theological reflection, dialogue, and leadership resourcing on integral and polycentric mission, raising the consciousness of Baptists worldwide to engage faithfully and creatively in God’s mission.