The Baptist World Alliance has reemphasised its commission to engage in conversations with other Christian bodies, as it prepares to employ dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church later this year.

|TOP|Being one of the eight major objectives within the BWA constitution, the Commission for Doctrine and Inter-Church Cooperation has continued to fulfil the objective over the past thirty years of being in constant dialogue with Christians from other denominations and organisations.

The BWA constitution states: "Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the objectives of the Alliance shall be...to promote understanding and cooperation among Baptist bodies and with other Christian groups, in keeping with our unity in Christ."

Most recently the BWA has been in contact with the Anglican Consultative Council, with previous conversations held with the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the World Mennonite Conference.

BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz, states that the aim is to "Give our Baptist brothers and sisters further opportunity to promote the Baptist principles of the separation of church and state and religious liberty."

In addition, it is also "to encourage the exchange of ideas concerning Biblical faith and the call of God to personal conversion and the necessity of renewed birth."

|AD|One of the conclusions reached during the 1990 conversations with the Vatican was a recommendation to continue conversations. However, Lotz said that for 16 years the BWA held off further conversations, opting rather for regional conversations in Europe, Latin America and North America. The Vatican Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has now requested further conversations and thus the BWA has responded at this time to partake in theological dialogue.

In March, a delegation, which was led by Lotz and included Paul Fiddes, Chair of the Commission on Doctrine and Inter-Church Cooperation, went to the Vatican where preliminary discussions were held.

From now until 2010, the expected conversations are to include the authority of Christ in Scripture and Tradition, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and Hearing the Word of God in the contemporary context, among other topics.

A hope has come about that the conversations will lead to an increased mutual understanding and appreciation of each other, as well as greater Christian charity, a statement on the BWA website explains.

It is expected that these conversations may lead to "further action together on ethical issues, including justice, peace and the sanctity of life, in accord with God's purpose and to the praise of God's glory," a report on the conversations noted.

Lotz highlights that such conversations have led to an increased openness in allowing Baptists and other Christians to practice their faith in countries where Baptists are actually a minority.

In addition, Lotz added that theological conversations with other Christian traditions are not to hinder evangelism, but to strengthen it.

The BWA General Secretary tells that the cooperative action and position of Christian churches have aided in some government authorities becoming more religiously tolerant in countries that practiced limited religious freedom.

The initial conversations with the Roman Catholics are planned for December 2006 at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, hosted by Dean Timothy George. It is hoped that further conversations will be in the various BWA regions.


For more information on the BWA, please visit: www.bwanet.org


[Source: BWA]