wfn.org | Baptist World Alliance Addresses Peace, Violence

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (ABNS)--Statements urging peace and condemning
personal and corporate violence were among resolutions issued by the Baptist
World Alliance General Council at its meeting July 8-13 in Seville, Spain.

The council's statements:  

* called for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and initiatives by
Christians, Jews and Moslems to that end, and noted that "the violence and
lack of peace is deplored and lamented by Baptists who see injustice on both
sides of the divide";

* condemned the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon and expressed sympathy to the victims of that and other terrorism
tragedies;

* encouraged "conversation with other religions and ideologies to resolve
areas of tension" while deploring violence in the name of God and the
service of religion; 

* condemned violence against children--including slavery, prostitution,
illegal child labor, criminal activities, child pornography and sexual
abuse--and urged support "for policies that would end such abusive
practices, strengthen the family, and support public and private agencies
that work for the betterment of children."

The Baptist World Alliance comprises 206 communions worldwide, including
American Baptist Churches USA.

02ABN117

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org