BWA Baptist Heritage and Identity Commission - Prague 2008 program announcement

Heritage and Identity Commission

Prague, July 22-24, 2008

For details of the Annual BWA Event, click here

The Heritage and Identity Commission is pleased to present its slate of three sessions

Tuesday, July 22, 2pm - 4pm - Joint Commission Study on Ordination

The Baptist Heritage and Identity, Church Leadership, and Doctrine and Interchurch Cooperation Commissions will all meet together to address the topic of "Ordination" or the"Credentialing" of ministers. The three commissions agreed to meet around this vital topic, which is one of the top issues generating questions regarding Baptist identity worldwide. In this session, our Commission and the Doctrine Commission will present papers to lay the historical and theological groundwork for the week's discussion. Karen Bullock will present the Historical background, and Paul Fiddes will address the theological foundations upon which Baptists have stood these 400 years.

For preparation for this session, please download and read the attached paper by Church Leadership Commission Chairman, Dr. Brian Winslade, "Ordination: Does it Fit?"

Wednesday, July 23, 2pm - 4pm - BWA Implementation Task Force

In this session, the BWA Implementation Task Force will be presenting its work of the past several years concerning the clarification and re-structuring of BWA's essential vision for the future. The Task Force presentation will highlight BWA's Clusters of Commitment, and offer ways by which every Baptist can be part of the larger goals and work of BWA worldwide.

Thursday, July 24, 2pm - 4pm - Heritage Commission Celebrates Czech Baptists!

Dr. Lydie Kucova, from the International Baptist Theological Seminary, will present the development of Baptists in the Czech Republic. We hope to have dozens of visitors to join our Commission for this session, as we explore together our common bonds in Jesus Christ, of our faith, and in our baptism.

Thursday, July 24, 7:15-9:15 pm - Work Session & Team Presentations

The Heritage and Identity Commission will receive updates and review the work that has been carried forward this year with regard to the following Team Projects:

"The Story Book Project"
"Site Verification and Historical Marker Project"
"Walking Tours of Amsterdam" - Tour Guides and Walking Tour Brochure (multiple languages)
"Children's Coloring Book Project" - The Big Baptist Birthday Party - 400 Years!
"Baptist History Photographic Essay Project"
"Baptist Identity Worship Leaflet Series"

We still need help with each of the Project Teams listed above. Please let us know your thoughts about these items as we prepare for Prague. Volunteers are still needed and most welcome to co-lead teams, serve as researchers and reporters, and serve as contributing members to the projects. We will know more about these as we hear back from the groups in the days ahead leading up to the Prague Annual Gathering. Contact Karen Bullock at if you are interested in joining one of these teams.

We hope everyone can attend this year's Annual Gathering. If so, could you reply and let us know to expect you? If not, will you consider sending along a greeting to the Commission that we can read to the Commission or print in our week's agenda? Thanks for keeping us updated.

Dr Karen Bullock, Convenor.

Main Page
updated 30 May 2008

	The Heritage and Identity Commission is pleased to present its slate of three sessions

	Tuesday, July 22, 2pm - 4pm - Joint Commission Study on Ordination The Baptist Heritage and Identity, Church Leadership, and Doctrine and Interchurch Cooperation Commissions will all meet together to address the topic of "Ordination" or the"Credentialing" of ministers. The three commissions agreed to meet around this vital topic, which is one of the top issues generating questions regarding Baptist identity worldwide. In this session, our Commission and the Doctrine Commission will present papers to lay the historical and theological groundwork for the week's discussion. Karen Bullock will present the Historical background, and Paul Fiddes will address the theological foundations upon which Baptists have stood these 400 years. For preparation for this session, please download and read the attached paper by Church Leadership Commission Chairman, Dr. Brian Winslade, "Ordination: Does it Fit?"
	Wednesday, July 23, 2pm - 4pm - BWA Implementation Task Force In this session, the BWA Implementation Task Force will be presenting its work of the past several years concerning the clarification and re-structuring of BWA's essential vision for the future. The Task Force presentation will highlight BWA's Clusters of Commitment, and offer ways by which every Baptist can be part of the larger goals and work of BWA worldwide.
	Thursday, July 24, 2pm - 4pm - Heritage Commission Celebrates Czech Baptists! Dr. Lydie Kucova, from the International Baptist Theological Seminary, will present the development of Baptists in the Czech Republic. We hope to have dozens of visitors to join our Commission for this session, as we explore together our common bonds in Jesus Christ, of our faith, and in our baptism.
	Thursday, July 24, 7:15-9:15 pm - Work Session & Team Presentations The Heritage and Identity Commission will receive updates and review the work that has been carried forward this year with regard to the following Team Projects: "The Story Book Project" "Site Verification and Historical Marker Project" "Walking Tours of Amsterdam" - Tour Guides and Walking Tour Brochure (multiple languages) "Children's Coloring Book Project" - The Big Baptist Birthday Party - 400 Years! "Baptist History Photographic Essay Project" "Baptist Identity Worship Leaflet Series" We still need help with each of the Project Teams listed above. Please let us know your thoughts about these items as we prepare for Prague. Volunteers are still needed and most welcome to co-lead teams, serve as researchers and reporters, and serve as contributing members to the projects. We will know more about these as we hear back from the groups in the days ahead leading up to the Prague Annual Gathering. Contact Karen Bullock at if you are interested in joining one of these teams.
	We hope everyone can attend this year's Annual Gathering. If so, could you reply and let us know to expect you? If not, will you consider sending along a greeting to the Commission that we can read to the Commission or print in our week's agenda? Thanks for keeping us updated.
	Dr Karen Bullock, Convenor.
Main Page	updated 30 May 2008