The following statement
was adopted by the March 1998 Council of the Baptist Union
for commendation to all churches, associations, and colleges in the Union.
Baptists are a gospel people, called to be:
A prophetic community - following Jesus in
- confronting evil, injustice and hypocrisy
- challenging human concepts of power, wealth, status and security
An inclusive community - following Jesus in
- transcending barriers of gender, language, race, class, age and culture
- identifying with those who are rejected, deprived and powerless
A sacrificial community - following Jesus in
- accepting vulnerability and the necessity of sacrifice
- seeking to reflect the generous, life-giving nature of God
A missionary community - following Jesus in
- demonstrating in word and action God’s forgiving and healing love
- calling and enabling people to experience the love of God for themselves
A worshipping community - following Jesus in
- engaging in worship and prayer which inspire and undergird all we are and do
- exploring and expressing what it means to live together as the people of God,
obeying his Word and following Christ in the whole of daily life
