BWA Heritage & Identity Commission
A Study Commission of the Baptist World Alliance
Officers: 1995-2000
Chair Eljee
Bentley
Vice-Chair:Dr
Richard Pierard
Vice-Chair:Dr
John Briggs
Secretary: Dr
David Priestly
About 65 people are named as members of the Commission
Baptist Heritage and Identity Commission
is one of the BWA's six study commissions that meet annually,
each year in a different part of the world, in conjunction with
the meetings of the BWA's General Council. During the current
quinquennium, meetings have been held in Hong Kong, Vancouver,
Durban and Dresden. The next meeting after Melbourne will be held
in Cuba.
At its first meeting, in Singapore
in 1986, members of the commission stated its purpose:
to investigate
and promote the meaning of Baptist heritage and identity
According to the General Secretary
of the BWA, Dr Denton Lotz, Commissions exist to bring about exchange
of ideas on topics relating to Christian experience and misison
and to encourage creative new solutions to problems of Christian
mission in today's world. The BWA seeks out the best Baptist thinkers
worldwide who are on the cutting ede of Baptist life and thought
to challenge the member churches and conventions/unions to the
enormous new responsibilities and opportunities for them in the
years ahead. They will not always agree with one another, but
the stimulation that commissions give to Baptist leaders is often
the beginning process for helping all hear and respond more clearly
to God's revelation in Christ. Study commission provide an outstanding
opportunity for Baptists to listen and learn from one another
from various parts of the world.
Members have explored the Baptist heritage
in higher education, evangelism, justice and peace, spirituality
and worship, the role of women. Another series of studies has
focused on Baptist origins and the lives of some Baptist leaders.
In 1987, the Commission produced a statement defining Baptist
identity, but it needs revisiting because it is apparent that
that Baptists in Zaire, for example, may not define Baptist in
the same way as Baptists in the United States.
The Commission has published
materials to help Baptists discover and preserve their heritage:
International Directory of Baptist
Archives/Libraries (1990)
Manual for Developing Baptist Archives (1990)
Bibliography of Selected Histories
of BWA Member Bodies in Countries other than the USA
The Commission assisted fellow
member Albert Wardin in producing
Baptists around the World
(Broadman and Holman, 1995).
Papers by members are included
in three volumes of the Study and Research Division of the BWA:
Faith, Life and Witness
(1990)
Baptist Faith and Witness
(1995),
Baptist Faith and Witness II
(2000)
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© David Parker Jan 2000