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THE KAMPALA PRINCIPLES
The 6th World Council meeting in Kampala, Uganda, in July 1973,
adopted at the same time the following declaration of principles:
The Paris Basis expresses that Christ is the centre of the Movement,
which is conceived as a world-wide fellowship uniting Christians of all confessions. It
is consistent with an open membership policy, involving people irrespective of faith as
well as age, sex, race and social condition. The Basis is not designed to serve as a
condition of individual YMCA membership, which is deliberately left to the discretion of
constituent movements of the World Alliance. The Basis makes clear that the constituent
movements of the Alliance have full freedom to express their purpose in other terms
designed to correspond more directly to the needs and aspirations of those whom they are
seeking to serve, provided these are regarded by the World Alliance as being consistent
with the Paris Basis. Recognizing the character of the YMCAs in the world today, this
act of acknowledging the Paris Basis places upon the various associations and their
members as fellow workers with God such imperatives as:
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To work for equal
opportunity and justice for all.
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To work for and maintain an
environment in which relationships among people are
characterised by love and understanding.
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To work for and maintain
conditions, within the YMCA and in society, its
organisations and institutions, which allow for honesty,
depth and creativity.
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To develop and maintain
leadership and programme patterns which exemplify
the varieties and depth of Christian experience.
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To work for the development
of the whole person.
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