General Secretary A. Roy Medley and other American Baptist representatives are currently overseas, participating in the Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering in Izmir, Turkey, from July 5-12, 2014.

The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is a fellowship of 228 conventions and unions in 121 countries and territories comprising 42 million members in 177,000 churches. American Baptist Churches USA is a member organization of the BWA.

Today, over 300 people from the global Baptist family representing every continent began arriving for the meetings of the various commissions of the Baptist World Alliance. Among the American Baptists who are here are President Don Ng and Past-president Ruth Clark, Lauran Bethell, Leo and Yvonne Thorne, Connie Gates, Hector and Argentina Gonzalez and Kent Berghuis. 

While here, they will be contributing to the work of the commissions in evangelism, justice, bilateral theological dialogues such as the one with the Methodist Church, interfaith discussions, and ethics among others.

In addition the Council will consider resolutions and will respond to suggestions from General Secretary Neville Callam to enhance the effectiveness of the BWA.

Already, development officers and staff from many different Baptist bodies have spent two days in discussing how we as a global Baptist family can strengthen our development and relief work together.  Lisa Rothenberger of American Baptist International Ministries staff represented us in these discussions.

Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA