VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 9/20/18)—In the time of Dr. Spitzer’s absence and recovery from surgery, the Rev. Dr. C. Jeff Woods will serve as Acting General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA.

In a letter to staff on behalf of the Board of General Ministries Executive Committee, ABCUSA Board of General Ministries President Josué Gómez-Menéndez said:

The unexpected health complication of our General Secretary, Dr. Lee Spitzer, encourages us to make decisions that promote the well-being and continuity of work at our offices. First of all, we raise a prayer for our brother Lee and his recovery; so that he can be with us again as soon as possible. We especially include his family, whom we send our most supportive embrace at this hour. It is time to demonstrate our quality of teamwork, “so that the world can see that we are one.”

After communicating with Dr. Spitzer, taking into consideration his recommendations and under the authority that gives us our guiding documents (Standing Rule 15.5.3), we are calling Rev. Jeff Woods as our Acting General Secretary for USA and Puerto Rico until Dr. Spitzer can return to his work.

Likewise and to maintain the continuity and effectiveness of our work, Alan Musoke will be heading the Building Issues and related to the sale, purchase and re-location from the Mission Center to our new office building. On the subject of Biennial, it will be Annie Marcucci who assumes the leading role in the affairs of our next Biennial Mission Summit at Virginia Beach, Va. next June 2019.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.