to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the

BWA resolved its commitment  to racial justice as an

fatherless, plead for the widow.' (Isaiah 1:15 17).

integral part of proclaiming Good News in Jesus

Segregated and homogenous unit worship engenders

Christ...[O]ur proclamation of the Gospel has not always

separation and often prevents racial and ethnic

included the need for repentance from sin, especially the

reconciliation. 

15

sin of racism...promotion of racial justice must be

intentional, sincere and undertaken with integrity.

3. A call for commitment to holistic and interracial

[B]ecause all humankind is made in the image and

mission and evangelism.   `That they may all be

likeness of God...every person is important and has the

one...so that the world may believe that thou hast seen

potential to be a new person in Christ we must work for

me' (John 17:21)...The reconciling Gospel unites

reconciliation and justice for all. 

21

Christians in worship and is a prophetic judgment over

against secular prejudice and racism! 

16

In addition, BWA made several recommendations to

its members, including, in part:

22

4. A call to work for the elimination of unfair trade and

for a just world economy.  The world economy tends

  To declare the notion that church life based on racial

to be divided between the rich North and the poor

homogeneity reduces the ability of people to

South. The poor South predominately includes people

understand each other's worth.

of color and different ethnic units...`for I was hungry

and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me

  To promote economic development as a means toward

drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was

racial justice.

naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited

me, I was in prison and you came to me...'(Matt.

  To recognize that the almost exclusive use of white

25:35 36)...Love must express itself in the

images of Jesus has limited our understanding of and

administration of just and equal laws for all. Baptist

witnessing to the incarnation.

churches are encouraged to unite together to combat

government systems that enhance and perpetuate racial

  To encourage all ministers and church leaders to

and ethnocentric prejudice. 

17

undertake training in racial justice, reconciliation and

redistribution of resources.

5. A call for the protection of the rights of aboriginal

and tribal peoples.  Racial and ethnic prejudice

  To design ways to collect and communicate the stories

prevents them from being fully integrated into the

of individuals and peoples who have experienced

larger society...We must not allow our silence to be

racism and ethnic conflict in order to recapture the

interpreted as affirmation of the status quo. 

18

imaginations and hearts and support of Baptists

everywhere.

6. A call for the study and affirmation of the

relationship between the gospel and culture.  The

In the Atlanta Covenant, BWA called  Baptist unions and

Biblical view in Revelation of all nations and peoples

conventions to A DECADE TO PROMOTE RACIAL

coming to Christ is not a call for the denial of culture,

JUSTICE by efforts to eradicate racism wherever it

but rather an affirmation of the awesome spectrum of

emerges and engaging in the struggle against ethnic

God's grace expressed in so many different languages,

conflict. 

23

ethnic groups, and nations...We must affirm that

The Atlanta Covenant is demonstrative of other

positive and historic reflection of God's glory among

statements from BWA that denounce racism. Others, in

the cultures of all peoples. 

19

part, include:

7. A call to repentance.  Racism and ethnic conflict is not

The Seoul Covenant

24

limited to one race, culture, or ethnic unit. However, it

 Believing that personal faith in Jesus Christ involves

is a blot on the so called Christian nations of the North,

commitment to His body, the Church, we aim to build

that often being white, they have fostered and

communities that will be effective signs of God's

engendered racism in their treatment of nationals...

Kingdom in the world...We confess that inherent within

Where there is division and hatred, we call upon our

the Gospel is the need for God's people to work for a

churches to work for reconciliation and peace. 

20

world where peace and justice are pursued, and whose

13