More than 20,000 Baptists are expected to join the thirty-six groups that comprise the North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF) in Canada and the United States as they convene for the 'Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant', tentatively set for January 30 to February 1, 2008 at the World Congress Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

The plans were announced at a press conference on January 9 after a meeting of almost 80 Baptist leaders at the Carter Centre in Atlanta, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has reported.

William Underwood, president of the Baptist-affiliated Mercer University in Georgia, who along with former US president Jimmy Carter conceptualised the idea of a Baptist covenant, declared that it brings together "Baptists of a broad spectrum - North and South, African American and Anglo-American, conservatives, moderates and progressives."

The covenant is drawn from Luke 4:18-19, and the convocation will focus on unity, respect for diversity, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger. Sessions will address issues such as racism, poverty, HIV/AIDS, stewardship of material resources, recovery of spiritual roots, religious liberty, faith and public policy, among others.

NABF president David Goatley, who heads the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention in the US, declared, "The wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing among Baptists in North America."

In recognising the historic nature of the planned celebration, Goatley said, "An effort of this magnitude has not been tried before.... By God's grace we will succeed in facilitating a missional movement among Baptists with the poor that may revolutionize lives and churches."

General Secretary of NABF Alan Stanford regards it as a tremendous opportunity for North American Baptists to work together. "This is just the starting point," said Stanford, "and I look forward to further collaborative efforts between the various North American groups."

Charles Wade, Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, in calling for prayer, declared, "This is a chance to heal the racial wounds that exist for the past 150 to 200 years. Canada and the US need to hear from us. It is an opportunity to express to our congregations what the heart of the gospel is."

William Shaw, President of National Baptist Convention, USA, the largest African American group on the continent with more than eight million members, said the celebration will "Bring Baptists together without being partisan, but no less prophetic."

All the major African American Baptist conventions will participate, along with other groups such as American Baptist Churches, USA, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and Canadian Baptist Ministries. The NABF represents more than 20 million members.

Even though former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, Baptist laymen, lend key support to the initiative, participants were careful to note that it is neither partisan nor political, Democrat or Republican.

It is an attempt "To provide a new, authentic, prophetic Baptist voice," said Mercer University's Underwood.

It is "The power of more than 20 million Baptists working together to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and provide justice for the poor," he said.