International baptist perspectives on human rights

Baptist History and Heritage, Spring, 2008 by Charles W. Deweese

Rutenber then drew upon resources in the Christian faith to counter totalitarianism. "Against the terrifying power of suppression and torture which the police state commands," he asserted, "the individual conscience seems pathetically weak. But let us not sell it short.... The radical audacity of faith! As long as conscience has that dictators can never quite trample it into nothingness. For it is by faith that the Christian and his ever-insistent conscience lives.... The Christian knows a secret--Jesus Christ is Lord. And the kingdoms of this world will yet become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever." (25)

The 1950 Congress adopted a Manifesto titled "Mid-Century Call to Religious Freedom." (26) And it adopted a resolution opposing genocide. (27)

Human Rights Emphases in 1955-2005

During these years, the BWA held eleven Congresses in London, Rio de Janeiro, Miami Beach, Tokyo, Stockholm, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seoul, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, and Birmingham, England. Increasingly, these Congresses tied together human rights and religious liberty. They made their points through special papers, the work of conferences and commissions on human rights and religious liberty, and adopted declarations, manifestos, and resolutions. The persistence of these emphases proves indisputably that the BWA has served as a highly influential advocate for human rights for decades.

In 1955, Mrs. Edgar Bates of Canada spoke on "Christ and Justice," Gunnar Westin of Sweden addressed the topic, "Why Fight for Religious Liberty?" and the Congress adopted a "Golden Jubilee Declaration on Religious Liberty." (28)

The 1960 Congress adopted a "Manifesto on Religious Liberty" and printed in its proceedings a document titled "The Meaning of Religious Liberty," which had been prepared by the Commission on Religious Liberty and was recommended by the Congress for study in the churches. (29)

The 1965 Congress heard Harold E. Stassen's paper, "Peace with Freedom and Justice," as well as three other papers under the general topic, "Religious Liberty and Human Rights." The Religious Liberty and Human Rights Commission heard eight papers including "The Biblical Basis of Religious Liberty" by theologian James Leo Garrett, Jr., and "The Biblical Basis of Human Rights" by Professor Culbert G. Rutenber. Three other papers focused on religious liberty in Europe, Africa, and North America, and three more on human rights in Asia, Australia, and North America. This Congress also adopted a "Manifesto on Religious Liberty and Human Rights." (30)

The 1970 Congress witnessed a symposium titled "Peace with Justice;" heard Gardner C. Taylor's paper on "Goals of Social Change" and Foy Valentine's paper on "Methods of Social Change" during the report of the Commission on Religious Liberty and Human Rights; and adopted three resolutions on "World Peace and Reconciliation," "Reconciliation and Racial Discrimination," and "Economic Justice." And James E. Wood, Jr., read his paper, "What Are the Foundations of Religious Liberty?" to the Commission on Religious Liberty and Human Rights. (31)