Note: This is a new web site - for our
existing site - click
here
Officers: 2000-2005
Chair:
Charles Weber (Wheaton, Ill, USA)
Vice-Chair:
Vice-Chair:
Secretary: Geoff
Pound (Melbourne, Australia)
About
65 people from all parts of the world are named as members of
the Commission
(contact secretary for more information)
BWA Heritage and Identity Chair,
Dr Charles W. Weber (right), and Secretary, Dr Geoff Pound
 |
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 last
quinquennium, meetings have been held in Hong Kong, Vancouver,
Durban and Dresden. The first meeting after Melbourne will be
held in Havana, Cuba in July 2000.
At its first meeting, in Singapore
in 1986, members of the commission stated its purpose as:
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).
Selected
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)
Contact secretary for more information
about these publications
This site
is being continuously developed - keep coming back for more! 7
711000
Contact Webmaster
