Posted: 9/29/07
Students sign petition
for freedom and justice
More than 1,000 Texas Baptist college students signed a Baptist World Alliance petition in support of freedom and justice worldwide during the Focus conference in Arlington.
By signing the petition, the students stated their agreement with the BWA Centenary Congress goal of religious freedom and justice for all people: “We oppose all forms of slavery, racism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing and so will do all in our power to address and confront these sins.”
The students also pledged to “urge all Christians to pray, to unite and to speak out to protect the rights of every person to worship God without fear of death, torture, imprisonment or economic exclusion.”
The BWA seeks to have 10,000 signatures for the petition that ultimately will be presented to the North American Baptist Fellowship, the BWA Freedom and Justice Commis-sion and the BWA representative to the United Nations.
Bruce McGowan, director of BGCT Collegiate Ministry, said he was pleased Texas Baptists could be the initial group to sign the petition.
“We’re thrilled as a state Baptist Student Ministry to be at the beginning of the petition opposing slavery, racism and ethnic cleansing,” he said. “We look forward to being actively involved in sharing the gospel that frees people from spiritual and physical captivity around the world.”
Individuals can sign the petition on the BWA website at www.bwanet.org.
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