GATHERING n BWA ANNUAL GATHERING n BWA ANNUAL GATHERING n BWA ANNUAL GATHERING n BWA ANNUAL GATHERING n BWA ANN

Callam Re-Elected to Another Five-Year Term

B

aptist World Alliance General Secretary Neville Callam has been re-elected by the BWA General Council at its meeting in Izmir, Turkey, to another five years in office. Callam became the first person who is neither North American nor European to lead the global Baptist organization when he was elected in 2007 at the BWA General Council meeting in Accra, Ghana. His new term runs from 2015-2020. Callam came to the office of general

secretary at a time of major constitutional and operational changes within the global organization for Baptists, many with potentially major implications on the future of the BWA. Taking what he calls a “collaborative approach to leadership,” Callam worked closely with other BWA leaders including President John Upton, committees and staff, to successfully implement many of the changes and negotiated some that needed review.

Much work was done to stream- line the administration of the BWA office, giving clarity to the alignment of purpose, functions and operational modalities. Callam worked with staff to

employ relevant technology to improve BWA functions while minimizing cost, and put in place a conference management system to secure greater economic sustainability. Working closely with the Budget and Finance Committee, chaired by BWA Treasurer

Carolyn Fossen, who was also re-elected to another five-year term, Callam successfully shepherded the BWA through the financial crisis and global economic recession that officially began in 2007, with minimal dislocations and impact on the operations of the BWA and its staff. A Covenant on Intra-Baptist Relations was also adopted to provide a framework

for BWA response to the diversity of language, culture, opinions and perspectives in meetings and in the various operations of the international body. The document takes into account the great diversity that exists among Baptists within the BWA. It assists member organizations to understand that all equally belong in, and are needed by, the BWA.

BWA membership has grown since Callam came into office, moving from 214 to 231 member organizations in 121 countries and territories. The divisions of Evangelism and Education and Study and Research were merged

into the newly formed Division of Mission, Evangelism and Theological Reflection (METR). The Division of Freedom and Justice (F&J) was established under Callam’s leadership. Other senior staff members re-elected by the General Council, which convened

during the Annual Gathering in Izmir from July 6-12, were Emmett Dunn, director of the Youth Department, and Rothangliani Chhangte, director of Baptist World Aid. METR director, Brazilian Fausto Vasconcelos, gave

notice of his intention to retire in 2016 and was re-affirmed until that date. Director of F&J Raimundo Barreto, also from Brazil, resigned effective early August this year to take up the position of assistant professor of World Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary in the United States.

BWA Commission Changes T

he BWA General Council approved a number of changes to commissions that fall under the divisions of Mission, Evangelism and Theological Reflection (METR) and Freedom and Justice (F&J). For METR, a new Commission on Mission was created to

and its member organizations to consider together developments taking place, within both the Baptist and the wider church family, on how the mission of the church is understood and fulfilled.” The Commission on Christian Nurture was formed to pay special attention to Baptist laypersons. It “will assist the BWA to to

the Christian

contribute more meaningfully consideration formation

and institutions Education practice

the ministries of local churches and the educational

especially they

and

through establish

with an intentional focus on the laity.” This new commission replaces the role that was intended for the Commission on Theological

Leadership

Formation. Three

separate commissions were

created to replace the current Commission on Social and Environmental Justice, which falls under F&J. The new commissions will deal respectively with Creation Care, Socio-economic Justice, and Racial and Gender Justice.

The Commission on Peace was renamed the Commission on Peace and Recon- ciliation to “afford a clearer delineation of the commission’s purpose.” A new

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Above left: BWA President John Upton and General Secretary Neville Callam during the Annual Gathering in Turkey in July

Below: Turkey dignitaries and BWA leaders at the Gathering

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