E l s t a l – According to Keith Jones, Rector of Prague´s International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS), the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is facing major structural changes. He and the American Wanda Lee (Birmingham/Alabama) are heading up the BWA´s “Implementation Task Force”. After informing World Alliance committees, Jones reported on the state of affairs at a meeting of the European Baptist Federation´s Executive in Elstal near Berlin. He stated thereby that the Baptist World Alliance’s relationship to its six regions – Africa, Asia, Europe, Caribbean, Latin America and North America – is decisive. This setup is to remain, even though the regions vary greatly in size and financial capabilities. Only two of these regions are financially independent. All others are dependent upon the World Alliance for financial support, which needs to be secured. It must nevertheless become clear that the supported workers in these regions are not BWA employees and are instead primarily responsible to the leadership in their own regions.

In order to strengthen the Baptist World Alliance´s ability as a 21^st-century international church organisation to act, the IFT is proposing two new committees alongside the General Council: an Advisory Council and an Executive Council. The Advisory Council should develop new ideas which strengthen Baptist witness in the world, preparing information received from the regions and helping to plan worldwide gatherings. The Executive Council is to replace the present Executive Committee and should enable quicker decisions on regular daily business.

Changes are also in store for the work of the BWA central offices in Falls Church near Washington. An Associate General-Secretary and an Assistant General-Secretary are intended to lighten the burden of the General-Secretary. The relationship between the President, 21 Vice-Presidents and the General-Secretary needs further clarification. Jones states: “The BWA’s member bodies have varying opinions regarding their tasks.” Further consultations are therefore forthcoming. EBF-Executive members applauded the recommendations made by the ITF.