BWA Day is to be re-launched in 2015

Celebration aimed at affirming Baptist identity within the worldwide Christian family moves back to February from May

Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Day is to be re-launched in 2015.

The observance will be on February 7 and 8, 2015, depending on whether Baptists worship on Saturday or Sunday. Baptist churches are encouraged to include BWA Day in their annual calendar.

A BWA Annual Gathering

The celebration is aimed at affirming Baptist identity within the worldwide Christian family. Baptists are encouraged to pray for each other and to renew their commitment to cooperate with Baptists globally through the BWA.

BWA Day has been celebrated since 1927 when the BWA Executive Committee, meeting in London, asked President Edgar Mullins and General Secretary John Rushbrooke to prepare a "Special Statement" to express clearly the purpose of the BWA. The Statement emphasised that the BWA "seeks to express and promote unity and fellowship among the Baptists of the world."

A decision was made to introduce the observance of Baptist World Alliance Day in an effort to promote unity and fellowship among Baptists.

Originally celebrated on the first Sunday of February each year, BWA Day was moved in 2006 to the first Sunday in May.

Recognising that some members of the BWA family worship on Saturday, the first Sunday of May and the Saturday immediately preceding it became the new dates for BWA Day in 2009.

However, now it is to revert back to February.

'It appears that the change from February to May has not gained traction within the BWA family,' said BWA General Secretary Neville Callam.

Resources for the BWA observance will be available on the BWA website at www.bwanet.org.