N a z a r e t h – Even in a secular society, Christians should not allow themselves and their faith to be pushed aside into a private corner. This was the exhortation of the General Secretary of the European Baptist Federation (EBF), Tony Peck (Prague) of Great Britain. As he said in his annual report at the EBF Council from September 21-25 in Nazareth, Christians believe that “Jesus is Lord – not only Lord of the Church, but also of the world and of our society”. Because of this, they must take care that their voice be heard. This is especially true for Baptists. Since their founding over 400 years ago, they have always demanded religious freedom for all and the separation of Church and State. They based this on their faith: “If Jesus Christ is Lord, no government can decide how its people worship God.” In addition, no religious tradition ought to be favored over others.

In connection with this, Peck praised the voice of Christians after the tragic events in Norway, after the unrest in England, and during the “Arab Spring”. In all these cases, they listened to others, including representatives of other religions. Sometimes they represented the same positions, sometimes different positions. But Christians are always called to build good relationships with the people around them. However, they must not limit this to moral and ethical questions. Other challenges must also be faced, for example, justice for the poor, for oppressed minorities, peaceful relations among different cultures and religious groups, environmental protection, education, and politics.

In this connection, Peck expressed thanks for the involvement of former EBF President Valeriu Ghiletchi (Chisinau), who belongs to the Moldavian parliament. After two years in office he hands over the office of EBF President to his successor, German Hans Guderian (Berlin). Ghiletchi pleaded passionately for social changes in Moldavia on the basis of the Christian faith. Peck further referred to British jurist Professor Malcolm Evans (Bristol), an internationally recognised expert in Human Rights and Religious Freedom, who is himself a Baptist, who was a plenary speaker at the most recent consultation of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Rome, concerning hate-crimes against Christians. Peck expressed the opinion that Christians must not withdraw into pious ghettoes, but must be salt and light in their society.

The EBF includes 55 member unions in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, with over 800,000 members.