Just days before the Baptist World Centenary Congress takes place, approximately 800 Baptist women gathered at the weekend in Aston, Birmingham for the 2005 Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Women’s Leadership Conference. The theme of the event was promoted as ‘Seeing with New Eyes’.

The Women’s conference saw more than 130 countries represented, and the opening ceremony saw a huge array of colours, as many attendees wore their home-nation’s costumes for the celebration.

Nigeria wore purple and white, Native Americans wore flowing dresses, Koreans and Japanese wore silks, and Latin Americans wore tiered skirts; however, despite the obvious huge differences and diversity in cultures, all gathered testified their unity in Christ.

The President of the BWA Women’ Dept., Dr Audrey Morikawa, from Canada said, "During my five years as President of the BWA Women's Department, I have come to realise the cost for many women of following Christ. My hope is that in coming together we can support and strengthen each other to live and serve where God has placed us, however difficult that place may be."

Sunday’s main session set the focus as women realising their own identity using Genesis 1 and Luke 1. In addition, the sociological roles of women in the twenty-first century were discussed in depth.

Yesterday, Monday 25th July 2005, similar considerations on the changing and varying roles within the family were brought to the forefront of discussions, as well as focus groups being used to look at individual topics in greater depth.

British Baptists were given great encouragement throughout the event as foreign members all thanked them for hosting the successful event. Dr Morikawa emphasised this even more by saying, "The lack of a British Women's Department to provide the local organisation was a potential problem, but the support network for ministerial spouses, Connexion, rose to the challenge and did a great job."

The history of Women’s World Day of Prayer was also highlighted at the conference, and presentations by each continental Union were also given – revealing clearly how God was leading their works and aiding them to see their own situations with "new eyes".

A song was also written especially for and devoted to the conference by Canadian singer/songwriter, Bey Foster.

Following the Women's Conference, the Baptist World Congress, also being held in Birmingham, starts on Wednesday 27 July and runs until Sunday 31 July, with more than 12,000 people expected to attend.