Delegates from the Baptist World Alliance met with Seventh-day Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen yesterday to affirm their denominations' common values and recommit to their shared goals of religious freedom.

The meeting, which included other church leaders, took place at Adventist world church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

"[Adventists and Baptists] share a Christ-centric faith and many of the same values," said John Graz, director of public affairs and religious liberty for the Adventist church. "We also share a passion for religious freedom, and in many countries around the world we cooperate closely to promote and defend this freedom."

Neville Callam, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance since 2007, echoed the common need to work for religious liberty.

"Part of the genetic makeup of the Baptist community is [the affirmation] of human dignity," Callam said. He also expressed interest in pursuing "mutual sharing and collaboration in common causes" in the future.

Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen also commended the group on past collaborations in the area of religious liberty.

"The strength of affirming and protecting religious freedom depends on participation of many. [Let us] explore opportunities to work together in the name of Christ and to strengthen our witness for him," Paulsen said.

Paulsen added that the partnership has provided "a fertile spiritual soil to our faith family."

The Baptist World Alliance was founded in 1905 and currently represents 105 million members in 119 countries.