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2009 Annual Gathering News

Former BWA vice president Bill Hogue has died
C. Bill Hogue, a former vice president of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), died on January 26 in Texas in the United States, after a year long struggle with cancer. He was 82 years old.

Baptist church damaged in Iraq explosion
First Baptist Church of Baghdad in Iraq was damaged by an explosion less than half a kilometer or about one third of a mile from the church building.

BWA team visits China
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and the China Christian Council (CCC) have reaffirmed the relationship between both bodies that began in the early 1980s.

Haiti remains desperate
The situation in Haiti remains desperate, according to the Baptist World Aid (BWAid) Rescue24 team that has been in the country since January 15, three days after a massive earthquake devastated much of the island nation.

Congo braces for volcanic eruption
Mount Nyamuragira in eastern DRC started spewing lava on January 2, threatening residents, wildlife, livestock and crops on or near the mountain.

BWA expresses solidarity with Malaysian Christians
BWA General Secretary Neville Callam sent a letter of support to the “Baptist family in Malaysia” in response to the torching of at least one church and attacks upon several others in the wake of a court ruling that allows Christians to use the name “Allah” for God.

Children of pastor who died in quake speak to the BWA
Bela Szilagyi, a member of the BWAid Rescue24 team currently in Haiti, spoke with the L'Amerique family after their father died in the earthquake on January 12.

Baptist rescue team arrives in Haiti
A Baptist World Aid Rescue24 team has arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and has begun work in a local clinic.

Baptist pastor dies in quake
Biene Lamerquea, a prominent Baptist pastor in Port-au-Prince, died in the earthquake that shook the capital of Haiti on the evening of January 12.

Haiti in shock
“The whole country is in shock by this terrible event,” Jules Casseus told the Baptist World Alliance

Baptist World Alliance responds to Haitian quake
Baptist World Aid (BWAid), the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), is coordinating Baptist response and relief efforts to victims of the devastating earthquake that affected Haiti on January 12.

Baptist-Catholic conversations continue in Rome
The fourth round in the second series of theological conversations between the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and the Vatican takes place December 13-19 in Rome, Italy.

BWA observes Human Rights Day
The Baptist World Alliance observes Human Rights Day on December 12 and 13. Human rights have been at the heart of the BWA in its 104 years of history

Baptists celebrate 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
Baptists in Germany commemorated the fall of the Berlin Wall with worship services on November 8 and 9, 2009.

Government pressure on seminaries in Sweden
Seminaries in Sweden are being instructed by the government to de-emphasize theological education in favor of general religious studies.

Hurricane Ida causes devastation in El Salvador
Sixteen persons connected with First Baptist Church in San Vicente in the Central American country of El Salvador, including seven children, went missing as a result of Hurricane Ida on Sunday, November 8,

Baptist union president fined in Uzbekistan court
Pavel Peychev, president of the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists of Middle Asia in Uzbekistan, and two other Baptist leaders, were convicted and fined for evading taxes and involving children in religious activity without their own or their parents’ consent.

Baptist unity a requirement of the Gospel
The Gospel requires that Baptist churches associate with each other, said BWA General Secretary Neville Callam

Baptist World Congress a family affair
There will be opportunities for the entire family to participate in the 20th Baptist World Congress to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, from July 28 to August 1, next year.

BWA observes Hunger Month
The Baptist World Alliance is observing October as Hunger Month

Baptists and human rights
BWA General Secretary Neville Callam speaks on human rights at the annual Pruit Memorial Symposium at Baylor University in Waco, Texas

Baptists respond to Asia and Pacific disasters
Baptist World Aid is coordinating relief efforts to the Philippines and Indonesia after these countries were badly affected by a typhoon and earthquakes, respectively

Former BWA President Nilson Fanini has died
Nilson do Amaral Fanini, president of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) from 1995-2000, died on Saturday, September 19

Pakistani Christians under pressure
The small Christian community in Pakistan has been experiencing increasing difficulties as a result of anti-Christian violence and the Pakistani government’s war against Taliban fighters.

2013 Baptist Youth World Conference in Singapore
The 16^th Baptist Youth World Conference will be held in Singapore in July 2013

Baptists aid typhoon victims in Taiwan
Baptists in Taiwan and around the world are assisting victims of Typhoon Morakot

Baptist 400 in Kiev
Baptists in Central and Eastern Europe plan a Jubilee conference in Kiev to celebrate 400 years of the Baptist movement

Baptists pray for Nigeria
More than 800 persons were reportedly killed during the latest round of religious sectarian violence

Leena Lavanya accepts BWA Human Rights Award
Leena Lavanya of India accepted the 2009 Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award on August 1

BWA divisions reorganized
There is a new Division of Mission, Evangelism and Theological Reflection

General Secretary reelected for new quinquennium, new director elected
Neville Callam was reelected General Secretary for 2010-2015; Raimundo César Barreto was elected Director of the Division of Freedom and Justice

BWA accepts two new member bodies
The Argentine Baptist Association and the Uganda Baptist Convention were voted into membership by the BWA on August 1

Billy Graham endorses BWA 400th celebration
Graham sent a letter to the BWA upon its celebration of the 400^th anniversary of the founding of the Baptist movement

Speakers chosen for Baptist World Congress
The main speakers have been confirmed for the 20th Baptist World Congress to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, July 28-August 1, 2010

BWA makes important constitutional changes
The General Council of the BWA voted to amend its constitution and bylaws

John Upton is president-elect
John Upton has been nominated to be president of the BWA

BWA launches legacy fund
General Secretary Callam announced the creation of the BWA 400 Legacy Fund at the General Council meeting on July 31

Callam calls for commissions on Christian-Muslim dialogue and intra-Baptist relations
Callam has urged the BWA to create a commission that would deal primarily with Baptist conversations with Muslims

Modern threats to religious liberty
Denton Lotz spoke at a special worship service held in Amsterdam to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Baptist movement

Samuel Sharpe, prophet and liberator
The life and legacy of Sharpe, an educated Jamaican slave and Baptist deacon, was discussed at the BWA Annual Gathering

Baptists and transformation
A forum during the second day of the BWA Annual Gathering
recounted the transformative work of Baptists over the past 400 years

European Baptists called to discipleship
BWA President David Coffey spoke during the concluding session of EBF-sponsored Amsterdam 400

Callam calls on European Baptists to commit to evangelism
BWA General Secretary Callam spoke during the Opening Celebration of Amsterdam 400 on Friday, July 24

Major Baptist celebrations begin this week in Europe
The Baptist World Alliance and the European Baptist Federation have planned major activities to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the founding of the Baptist movement

President-elect to be chosen in Ede
The General Council will choose the person who will serve as BWA president for 2010-2015 if elected at the World Congress

Myanmar Baptists plan major bicentennial celebration
The celebration, to be held in 2013, will mark the bicentennial anniversary of the founding of Baptist witness in Myanmar

Constitutional changes expected in Ede
The BWA General Council will vote on constitutional amendments such as a reduction in the size of the Executive Committee

Baptists and Catholics in Italy reach agreement on marriage
The agreement addresses interchurch marriages between members of the two Christian faith traditions

Baptists sign letter to President Obama
Several Baptist leaders in the United States signed a letter calling for a just and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

BWA commissions and workgroups to focus on 400th celebration
At the BWA Annual Gathering in Ede, commissions and workgroups will explore various theological, doctrinal, ethical, historical and social issues

Leading Asian theological educator dies
Lilian Lim Hui Kiau, President of the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary, died on June 25

Haitian university president calls on nation to work together for national reconstruction
Jules Casseus, president of the Northern Haiti Christian University, issued a call to action in his speech at the school's graduation exercises

400th celebration to focus on worship
Worship during the BWA Annual Gathering in Ede, Netherlands, will focus on the work of outstanding Baptists throughout the past 400 years
En Español

Lotz receives international religious liberty award
Denton Lotz, former general secretary of the BWA, received the International Award for Religious Liberty on June 18
En Español

Leading Baptist scholars to participate in BWA meetings in the Netherlands
Scholars will lead discussions on the history of Baptist witness in different regions of the world