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MINI-DESPATCH. March 03, 2002
From W. B. Howard ...Editor of
Despatch Magazine
.

THE BAPTIST UNION AND THE BWA.
Reading through the book “Billy Graham and His Friends” by Dr Cathy Burns
has brought Endtime Ministries into a new area, as far as the Baptist Union
denomination in Australia goes. We now see it in far worse a light than we
previously did! This denomination had been seen as sound biblically here
in Australia, back in the ‘50s – ‘70s. We tend to regard the Baptist churches
in our towns and cities as still being rather conservative, or at least not
being churches that are vastly in error. But, we can forget the world union,
which IS the Baptist Church, and all those who make up this union – the Baptist
World Alliance.
We need to get at the stunning truth about the BWA, and how it controls and
affects the Baptist Union in Australia. It is not a pretty picture. The Baptist
Union, it appears, is as SINISTER as the World Council of Churches is!
The Australian Baptist Union is certainly a member of the BWA, lest you debate
this fact. An international name to watch for is Australian, Tony Cupit.
He is the Director, Study and Research, BWA, Australia and USA. (See more
below). Despatch will now give a number of quotes, which should reveal the
extent of the BWA’s compromise, collaboration with the Vatican, Communists,
New Age, Freemasons and the New World Order. We will shown as well the complete
involvement of the Australian Baptist Union. Yes, BWA IS the ABU! Despatch
will give a few comments here and there to clarify.
THE BWA IS NOT WHAT YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS!
The following startling information has been taken from “Billy Graham and
His Friends” by Dr Cathy Burns, p.p.481-487. Fuller documentary proof can
be found in the book. Space in this magazine is limited. If the reader requires
references to documentation on a fuller level from Endtime Ministries, please
write giving your request clearly, $5 for postage etc:
(Page 469) AMSTERDAM 2000
Amsterdam 2000 was a conference sponsored by the Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), and was held from July 29 to August
6, 2000. The conference included 10,000 evangelists and church leaders from
209 nations and more than 900 plenary and teaching sessions were scheduled
to be conducted by some of the world's top "Christian" leaders.' The cost
for this conference was around $35 to $40 million dollars.'
Although Billy Graham himself was unable to attend due to being hospitalized,
he did send greetings to those in attendance. I think it would be of interest
to look at a few of the speakers selected to speak at this conference.
The first speaker we'll look at is John Stott. Stott claims that he
believes in hell but he doesn't believe in eternal punishment .At a conference
sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals in the late 1980's,
Stott "revealed that he was a proponent of conditional immortality, or annihilationism,
a view that denies eternal punislunent in hell for the unsaved." In the January
8, 1996 issue of Christianity Today, a magazine founded by Billy Graham,
is an interview with Stott. Stott refers to his book, Evangelical Essentials,
and suggests that "`eternal punishment' may mean the ultimate annihilation
of the wicked rather than their eternal conscious torment. I would prefer
to call myself agnostic on this issue .... In my view, the biblical teaching
is not plain enough to warrant dogmatism. There are awkward texts on both
sides of the debate. " Elsewhere he stated that "the language of destruction
means to destroy but can be a metaphor when the Bible speaks of the Lake
of Fire."
Stott is a strong supporter of the liberal, pro-Communist National Council
of Churches? No wonder he writes: "The fundamentalist is like a caged bird,
unable to escape at all."
He is also a contributing editor to the liberal, left-wing publication, pro-abortion,
pro-homosexual, and pro-feminist magazine, Sojourners. I guess this
isn't really all that surprising since Stott has said: "We must engage in
a double listening, both to the voice of feminists and to the voice of God.
" [Emphasis in the original.] .
PAGES 481 and on.
BILLY KIM- President of the Baptist World Alliance.
Another speaker at Amsterdam 2000 was Billy Kim."' He was the interpreter
for Billy Graham in 1973 when Graham went to Seoul, Korea.
At the conference, Kim "favorably quoted Martin Luther King, Jr., [Communist
sympathizer] who, according to Kim `pricked America's conscience and gave
America a dream."
Kim, a Promise Keepers speaker, was the vice president and is now the president,
of the liberal Baptist World Alliance (BWA). About three weeks prior to Kim
speaking at Amsterdam 2000, the BWA had a "very important" and "excellent"
several hour meeting with Cuban communist dictator, Fidel Castro. Castro
was the guest speaker for the BWA's General Council meeting in July."' Kim
even had a private visit with Castro."
"The BWA resolution that gained the most publicity was the unanimous resolution
calling for the end of the blockade of medicine and food products to Cuba.
A BWA report says `Baptists of the world stated very clearly that they thought
it was unfair to punish the poor people of Cuba by such a blockade.' Why
not a resolution against Castro's `unfair' denial of freedom to poor Cubans?"'
The BWA leaders also "boldly stated that evangelism is more important than
doctrine and faithfulness to the truth. Outgoing. BWA President Nilson Fanini
stated in an interview that “theology sometimes divides us, but evangelism
and missions bring us at together."
"The BWA is an ecumenical alliance of 191 Baptist denominations in more than
140 countries. It promotes the false teaching that unity is more important
than doctrinal truth. In decades past it has been strongly influenced by
communists, and it supports new age one-world organizations such as the United
Nations (UN). At the 15th Baptist World Alliance meeting in 1985, the BWA
commended the UN and, challenged Baptists `to make a new commitment of prayer
for the UN, promote interest and support for its programmes, and encourage
world-wide rededication to the principles and purposes of its charter.'...
"Among the denominations which are united under the BWA umbrella are the
American Baptist Convention and the Baptist Union of Great Britain, both
of which are permeated with the most blasphemous and heretical modernism
under the sun."
BWA AT PAGAN-FEST
The BWA was represented at the 1986 Day of Prayer for World Peace in Assisi,
Italy, along with "mantra-mumbling Buddhists Shiva-loving Hindus, spirit-worshipping
Indians invoking the Spirit of the Sky, Shintos, Bahais, Jainists, African
animists calling on The Great Thumb, fire-worshipping Zoroastrians, Sikhs,
[and] Moslems crying to Allah."' This event, by the way, was organized by
Pope John Paul II!
What happened at Assisi? The Associated Press reports.,
"Chants, temple bells and pagan spells echoed around the Roman Catholic shrines
of Assisi yesterday as Pope John Paul II and his 200 guests from the world's
12 Images religions prayed for world peace....
"The medicine man of the Crow Indians [spirit worshipers-D.W.C.], Chief John
Pretty-on-Top, offered to cast out evil spirits. Many came forward, among
them a young Franciscan monk.
"In a chapel down the road, the head of the Zoroastrian church in Bombay prayed before a fire that symbolized his God.
"Next door, six turbanned Sikhs--all Italian converts--sat
chanting their prayers in the lotus position to gramophone music.
"At an old Roman temple, shoeless Moslems sat on prayer mats.
"The 14th Dalai Lama, exiled god-king of Tibet, headed
the strong Buddhist contingent, mumbling sutras amid tinkling bells at the Basilica of St. Peter.
"In the gardens outside, a Shinto sect called Tenrikyo, in
black kimonos, swayed to temple music."African animists, their togas the envy of any designer,
invoked the spirits of trees and plants to come to the aid of once ...... 11
"Two tribal animists from Africa intoned, `Almighty God, the Great Thumb
we cannot evade in tying any knot, the Roaring Thunder that splits mighty
trees, the All-Seeing Lord up on
who sees even the footprints of an antelope on a rock mass here on earth ... you are the cornerstone of peace.'
"Smoking a ceremonial peace pipe, John Pretty-on-Top, a Crow Indian medicine
man [witchdoctor] from Montana, in a full-feathered headdress, recited, `O
Great Spirit, I raise my pipe to you, to your messengers the four winds,
and to mother earth, who provides for your children ...I pray that you bring
peace to all my brothers and sisters of this world. "
CHRISTIAN-MARXIST DIALOGUE BWA STYLE!
Paganism isn't the only attraction for some of the BWA leadship. In 1960,
Jakov Zhidkov "preached the Communist line before the Baptist World Alliance
and offered Khrushchev's
disarmament program as the one behind which all Christians should unite."
"Bychkov, leader of the communist-controlled All Union Council of Evangelical
Christians-Baptists, was also identified as a KGB agency by the FBI. April
17-23 [1988] Ecumenical Press Service reports that Bychkov met recently with
the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board in Richmond, Virginia. This infiltrator
is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Baptist World Alliance,
whose largest supporter is the Southern Baptists. "121
This really isn't surprising since at BWA's 15th World Congress in 1985 they
decided to dialogue with heathen religions and communists. Dr. Glenn A. Igleheart
(sic) wrote a report entitled "Why Baptists Dialogue with Others" in which
he stated:
"The situation in the world outside the churches demands dialogue take place.
Other world religions have entered a resurgent missionary phase in their
history, and Baptists should join with other Christians in utilizing dialogue
as a means of truly entering into relationship with representatives of these
faiths. Dialogue may cause Christians to rethink their perceptions of these
and other faiths and to revise their approaches to them. In addition to other
world religionists, Christians need to enter into Christian-Marxist dialogues
in order to know how to cope with the followers of that ideology."
Iglehart, by the way, serves on a commission in the National Council of Churches.
As Christians, we are not to dialogue with other faiths. The Bible tells
us that we should "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary
to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17). I Timothy
6:3, 5 states: "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which
is according to godliness;... Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds,
and destitute of the truth.. from such withdraw thyself." "Shun profane and
vain babblings..." (II Timothy 2:16). II John 1:10-11 warns: "If there come
any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house,
neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
of his evil deeds." Finally, II Corinthians 6:14,17 cautions us:
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? ...Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."
"We are to BELIEVE sound doctrine, Titus 1:9. We are to PREACH sound doctrine,
II Timothy 4:2. We are to ADORN sound doctrine, Titus 2:10. All three of
these are important."' [Emphasis in the original.]
RUSSIAN HAMMER AND SICKLE.
In a previous chapter I mentioned that Graham had traveled with Communist
sympathizer, Martin Luther King, Jr., to and from the BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE.
From 1955 until at least 1993, Graham had given the closing address at each
BWA Congress. After speaking at the BWA meeting in 1980, Graham "joined in
a rousing applause accorded the Russian hammer and sickle during the traditional
Parade of Flags."'
Additionally, Graham "encourages everyone to support the BWA. In 1995 the
BWA honored Graham with a special award .... " In 1999, the Baptist World
(BWA's magazine) "had an article praising Billy Graham as the `greatest evangelist
of this century,' and termed as Twentieth Century prophets' the likes of
Bonhoeffer, King, and `Oscar Romero."'
CHINESE COMMUNIST.
Another person who attended a BWA meeting and spoke was none other than Han
Wenzao, the Chinese Communist, who was discussed earlier. When he presented
his appeal he mentioned the "socialist modernization in Imagesland China "
PAST PRESIDENTS OF BWA - FREE MASONS!
Several of the past presidents of the BWA have been Masons
such as William R. Tolbert, 33°, George W. Truett, 32, and former vice president Louie D. Newton, 32'.
BILLY KIM (at the time of this writing is the President of the atrocious
BWA) pastors the 10,000-member Central Baptist Church in Korea, and
"has traveled/spoken with David Yonggi Cho, the Assembly of God pastor of
the world's largest church who has been said to use occultic mind techniques."'
In spite of Cho's occultic inclination, Billy Graham has had Cho as one of
his Images speakers at Amsterdam '83!136 Graham was the Images dedication speaker
for Cho in 1973 when a new auditorium was added.
BISHOP TUTU AND THE WORLD CONFERENCE OF RELIGION AND PEACE – NEW WORLD ORDER.
"The apostate BWA featured socialist Bishop Tutu at a 1998 BWA meeting...."
Tutu, a "proponent of leftist revolution in South Africa," is a former Anglican
Archbishop and a Nobel Peace Prize winner."' He was one of the ten Presidents
of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), a New Age organization
working to bring in the new world order. In Religion for Peace, a newsletter
from the WCRP, we find that the "WCRP/International is actively seeking staff
on loan from Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and other religious bodies to serve
on the Secretariat. [Emphasis in the original.]
Tutu also attended the "Spirit of Peace" conference along with people like:
Marilyn Ferguson leading proponent of the New Age movement; Prince Bernhardt
(sic) of the Netherlands, commonly known as a leader of the one-world secret
elitist society, the Bilderbergers; `His Holiness' Tenzin Gyatso, the XIV
Dalai Lama of Tibet; Zentatsu Richard Baker-Roshi, co-founder and second
abbot of San Francisco Zen (Buddhist) Center; Helen Caldicott, president
of `Physicians for Social Responsibility,' an organization favoring U. S.
unilateral disarmament; ... and Robert Muller, [former] Ass't Secretary General
of the U. N., in charge of co-ordinating the work of 32 specialized agencies
and world programs.
Tutu is very supportive of the United Religions Initiative and he also
participated in (and was a co-chairman, along with Mikhail Gorbachev, of)
the State of the World Forum, an organization also working for a one world
order. He was one of the speakers for the Council on Foreign Relations in
1990.
In 2000 Tutu joined several prominent theologians
"to urge religious leaders to work together to find a new image of God for the 21 st century.
"`No religion can claim to have the whole truth about the mystery' of faith, Tutu said....
"Tutu also urged Christians to embrace other faiths.
TUTU CALLS FOR ORDINATION OF HOMOSEXUALS
Tutu has been a speaker for the New Age, one-world World Constitution and
Parliament Association and he is a member of the Club of Rome (along with
the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Robert Muller).He is the highest ranking
Anglican to call for the ordination of practicing homosexuals, and has warned
that rejecting homosexuals is "nearly the ultimate blasphemy."'He even wrote
the foreword to a book that is a collection of "Christian" liturgies for
gays."
At a Windsor meeting in March 1995, Tutu said: "THE CHURCH MUST
NOT EXCLUDE PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF gender, culture, ethnic origin or SEXUAL
ORIENTATION."' [Emphasis in the original.] He added: "Let ours be inclusive
communities, welcoming and embracing." On February 9, 1996, Tutu signed a
public message in support of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.
Tutu is a Marxist. In 1983, he said: "I find capitalism quite horrendous
and unacceptable. I am a socialist."' When he received the Nobel Peace Prize,
he bragged: "I receive the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Nelson Mandelas,
the Walter Sisulus, the Goven Mbekis, the Winnie Mandelas, the Albertina
Sisulus." We've already taken a look at Mandela and his Communist connections,
so you have an idea of what kind of people Tutu finds inspiring!
You will get a better idea of who Tutu is by looking at a few of his quotations:
"Imagine what would happen if only 30 percent of domestic servants [in the
white households-Ed.] would poison their employers' food." (Remember, this
statement comes from a Nobel Peace Prize winner!)
"I hate capitalism."
"Mandela is my leader."
"The West can go to H-11.”
"I think I would use Marxist insights."
"When young people take up arms, I will not condemn them."
(ABC Interview, October 16, 1984.)
"In terms of the New Testament, the Jews must suffer. Therefore, we will
put it into practice if we will be in charge and there will be no sympathy
for the Jews when the blacks take over.”
"I am glad I am not Christian.""°
"Some people thought there was something odd about Jesus'
birth. It may be that Jesus was an illegitimate son."
BACK TO THE BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE!
So much more could be said about Tutu and his socialistic and un-Christian
viewpoints, but this is the man who has spoken at the Baptist World Alliance
of which Billy Kim, a Graham speaker at Amsterdam 2000, is now President!
Tutu also spoke at the World Council of Churches in 1993 and drew a standing ovation.
Peter 2:1-3 warns:
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall
be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of
truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned
words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth
not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
Also, Romans 16:18: "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,
but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts
of the simple."
(Conclusion of Dr Burns’ material).
TONY CUPIT, AUSTRALIA.
From Australian author Morag Swartz, “The New Age Gospel: Christ or Counterfeit?” published by Parenesis Pub., back in 1987:
“1985: Rev Tony Cupit, general superintendent, Baptist Union of Victoria,
addressing annual assembly: ‘We believe it is time that all our churches
be involved in study to see what God through His Word is saying to His churches
today about the whole area of peace. This of course includes peace with God,
peace with our fellows, peace with ourselves and peace in the world.’ Encourages
Baptist churches to use Bible study series on peace in 1986 – the UN’s International
Year of Peace. (The Victorian Baptist Witness November 1985)…
The study book ‘Peace I Leave You’ by Baptist minister Tony Cupit has found
a ready market among Australian Christians keen to grapple with ‘relevant’
issues such as peace. One hopes that discerning readers will be able to sift
the sparse items of value from the vast tracts of humanist-influenced waffle
about this trendy topic.
…The problem basically lies in the author’s attempt to single out peace as
a major theme for the church, when in fact peace is a consequence, or byproduct
of other, far more weighty themes. Peace is merely one of the indications,
or gifts, of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and peace in cosmic terms in (sic)
before the time designated by and brought about by God Himself.” (p.p.130-131).
AN ACORN BECOMES AN OAK TREE?
Tony Cupit, back in 1985, was merely the General Superintendent of the Baptist
Union in Victoria. Today he is the Director of Study and Research for the
Baptist World Alliance! No doubt his political support for the New World
Order’s United Nations has massively aided his climb in influence since 1985.
In his book back in the eighties Cupit distorted the role of the Lord Jesus
Christ, showing Him not so much as a Redeemer in a spiritual sense Who brings
peace with God for individuals, but as a Man Who brings peace politically
to the unsaved world in our time-slot. Yes, Christ will bring political peace,
but not until His Millennial Reign, after the Second Advent (and after God’s
judgment on the earth’s nations – the Tribulation!)
Cupit brought a NEW AGE Gospel, (one with a sinister agenda within its pages),
in “Peace I Leave With You.” Here are a few quotes:
“here was the Galilean carpenter offering peace…” (p.12). “Peace is [Gods’]
gift freely given…” (p.16). “the Galilean teacher makes an unashamed
claim to grant peace…” (p.24).
As Morag Zwartz commented: “[Jesus Christ] is seen almost exclusively as
a Peaceman, and portrayed as One offering around peace like a free balloon
at a fair…” (p.131).
ALL THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN GLEANED FROM THE AUSTRALIAN BAPTIST UNION’S WEBSITE:
L.A. (TONY) CUPIT:
As Director of Evangelism and Education, Cupit is responsible for the worldwide
evangelism strategy of Baptists, which includes: proclaiming and demonstrating
the Gospel; establishing new congregations; reaching unevangelized people
and strengthening indigenous mission.
As Director of Study and Research, Cupit coordinates the six study commissions
that deal with vital aspects of Baptist life, and has responsibility for
the BWA's United Nations (NGO) involvement, the compilation of BWA's annual
membership statistics and the International Mission Secretaries.
BAPTISTS AND CATHOLICS MEET
(by Tony Cupit)
BUENOS AIRES (BWA) -- On December 6, 7, 2001, thirteen Baptists and nine
Roman Catholic church leaders met at the International Baptist Theological
Seminary in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Though the majority of participants
are leaders of Baptist and Catholic communities in Latin America this fraternal
discussion was organized by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity, Rome, and the Baptist World Alliance.
The origin of the meeting is related to the fact that the BWA and the Catholic
Church co-sponsored a phase of official international conversations during
the periods 1984/1988 and published a report entitled “Summons to Witness
to Christ in Today’s World” (1990). While there is no intention at the present
time by the PPCU and the BWA to begin a second phase of international conversations,
both bodies are convinced that contacts and discussions between the two communities
are of immense value and should continue.
A meeting was held in Rome in December 2000 between an international delegation
of Baptists and leaders of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity. It was decided then to have another meeting the following year,
this time in Latin America because of the interaction that exists between
Baptists and Roman Catholics in almost every country of Latin America
The participants in the Buenos Aires meetings were as follows:
Roman Catholic:
Walter Cardinal Kasper, President, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Vatican City
Bishop Marc Ouellet, Secretary Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Monsignor John A. Radano, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Fr Juan Usma Gomez, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Bishop Julio Terán Dutari, Auxilliary Bishop of Quito, Ecuador
Rev Jorge Scampini, Prof. of Systematic Theology and Moderator of the
Dominican Center of Theological Studies, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rev Gabriele Cipriano, Secretary of Office of Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue, Brazilian Bishops Conference
Rev Carlos Schickendantz, Professor of Systematic Theology, Catholic University
of Chile also and the Catholic University of Cordoba
Rev Francesco Ballarini, Executive Secretary, Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism,
relations with Judaism and other religions of the Episcopal Conference of
Argentina.
Baptists:
Dr. Denton Lotz, General Secretary, Baptist World Alliance, USA
Rev L. A. (Tony) Cupit, Director, Study and Research, Baptist World Alliance, USA/Australia
Lic. Amparo Medina, Vice-President for Latin America, Baptist World Alliance, Colombia
Dr. Raúl Scialabba, Vice President for Latin America, Baptist World Alliance, Argentina
Dr. Nancy Bedford, Professor of Systematic Theology, ISEDET, Institute of Theological Studies, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dr. Paul Eustache, President, National Baptist Convention of Venezuela
Dr. Nilson do Amaral Fanini, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Niteroi, Brazil
Rev. Josue Fonseca, Dean of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Santiago, Chile
Dr. Tomás Mackey, Professor of Systematic Theology, Buenos Aires,
Executive member BWA´s, division of Study and Research
Rev Harold Segura Carmona, Coordinator of Dept. of Theological Education of the Union of Baptists of Latin America, Colombia
Dr. Fausto Aguiar de Vasconcelos, President, United Baptists of Latin America, President Baptist Convention of Brazil
Lic. Emigdio Veizaga Guzman, Executive Secretary, Association of Seminaries
and Theological Institutions of Latin Amercia, Bolivia
Dr. Carlos Villanueva, Rector, International Baptist Theological Seminary, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cardinal Kasper and Dr. Lotz were co-chairs of the conference. Cardinal
Kasper brought greetings from the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II and Dr.
Lotz brought greeting from BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE PRESIDENT DR BILLY KIM
FROM KOREA. (Emphasis added).
The combined activites of the Baptist Churches within Australia include various
national and international aspects. Below is a list of the ministry arms
within the Baptist Union of Australia. A further description of each ministry
can be found on subsequent pages.
The Baptist Union of Australia is a member of the Baptist World Alliance and Asian Baptist Federation.
Anglican-Baptist International Forum (ABIF) - Communiqué
As a result of the decision of the General Council of the Baptist World Alliance
(BWA) and the Lambeth Conference of 1998, the first official international
conversations between the two communions were held from 21-24 September in
Norwich, England. This was the first round of the conversations of the Forum
which brought together Anglicans and Baptists from the Churches in Europe.
Future meetings will bring together representatives from Baptist and Anglican
Churches in Asia (2001), Africa (2002), the Caribbean and the USA (both in
2003). A continuation committee made up of 4 Anglicans and 4 Baptists will
attend all the regional consultations and will be responsible for drafting
the report to be submitted to the BWA and the Anglican Consultative Council
(ACC) in 2005.
The BWA and the ACC have agreed the following objectives for the conversations:
To enable Anglicans and Baptists to learn from each other and to deepen mutual
understanding of the relationships between the two Communions in the light
of their histories.
To share with each other our understandings of the faith and to work towards a common confession of the Apostolic Faith.
To identify issues of doctrine and of the nature of the Church to be explored further in possible future conversations.
To look for ways to co-operate in mission and community activities and increase our fellowship and common witness to the Gospel.
Representatives from England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales
shared information on the particular histories of Anglicans and Baptists
in these countries, including, the ways the two Churches have related in
the past. Papers were also presented on aspects of Anglican and Baptist ecclesiological
self-understanding, in the European region. From the discussions several
areas emerged which will likely be explored in further conversations in the
different regions. These included questions related to continuity/apostolicity,
the place of statements of faith or confessions, Christian initiation, eucharist,
recognition/reconciliation, the meaning of "local church", the nature of
oversight, and approaches to mission, evangelism and pastoral care.
The years of grassroots ecumenical experience in local ecumenical partnerships
(LEPs) in the British context contributed richly to the conversations. Nevertheless,
the representatives acknowledged that the conversation would have been further
enriched by more attention to the wider European reality. All felt that the
discussions would be of help to local and regional bilateral conversations
where they exist in Europe.
While at Norwich the members of the Forum worshipped together at Norwich
Cathedral, and were grateful for the cordial welcome extended by the Dean
and Chapter which contributed in no small way to the success and warmth of
the meeting.
The following persons took part in the meeting:
Anglicans: The Revd Dr Bruce Matthews (Canada, co-chairman, continuation
committee), The Revd Preb Dr Paul Avis (England, continuation committee),
The Revd Dr Timothy Bradshaw (England), Dr Martin Davie (England), Mr Charles
Gore (Scotland), The Revd Susan Huyton (Wales), Mr Dermot O'Callaghan (Ireland),
Bishop Samuel San Si Htay (Myanmar, continuation committee), The Revd Andrew
Sully (Wales), The Revd Canon David Hamid (Anglican Communion Office co-secretary,
continuation committee)
Baptists: Dr Paul Fiddes (England, co-chairman, continuation committee) The
Revd Gethin Abraham-Williams (Wales), The Revd Myra Blyth (England), The
Revd Christopher Ellis (England), Dr Timothy George (USA, continuation committee),
The Revd Anna Maffei (Italy), Dr Kenneth Roxburgh (Scotland), Dr Karl Heinz
Walter (Germany), Dr L.A. (Tony) Cupit (BWA, co-secretary, continuation committee).
Ms Rosemary Palmer, Anglican Communion Office, served as the administrative assistant.
The Anglican Baptist International Forum, Asia/Pacific consultation will take place from 18-21 January 2001 in Myanmar.
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