Since accepting the call to serve as the General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA in June 2017, Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer has cast a vision calling for the American Baptist family to unify around the historic Baptist movement’s core convictions and mission, and to enter into a new era of church growth, evangelism, prophetic witness and creative service in cooperation with our national and regional partners. He thoroughly enjoys the ethnic and racial diversity of our American Baptist family, which includes approximately 5,000 churches and 1.3 million members.
Judson Press has published two books by Dr. Spitzer. Making Friends, Making Disciples (2010) explores how relationships impact our lives and the discipleship and evangelism ministries of churches. His newest book, Baptists, Jews and the Holocaust: the Hand of Sincere Friendship (2017), reveals how Baptists in the United States responded to Nazism, anti-Semitism and the Holocaust.
Dr. Spitzer has written other scholarly articles and books, including Endless Possibilities: Exploring the Journeys of Your Life (1997) and the companion Endless Possibilities Course Book (2001). In A Summer’s Journey (2001), he chronicled his unique pilgrimage to Israel during a summer of terrorism and turmoil. He authored three articles on children’s spirituality for the Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development (2006), and a chapter on “Friendship” in Learning to Lead (2012), edited by Dr. Willard Ashley. In 2017, LERBAN (the publishing ministry of the Convenção Batista Nacional, Brazil), published a Portuguese language adaptation of Endless Possibilities, entitled, Possibilidades Sem Fim.
Dr. Spitzer has been married for forty-one years and has two children, Joshua and Larisa, and one grandson, Restyn Joshua Skinner. His wife, Lois, is an associate professor at Stockton University. Both Lee and Lois were born into Jewish homes and converted to Christianity as teenagers in the early 1970s. They enjoy sharing with Christians about the Jewish foundations of Christianity.
Posted Articles
Early-Bird Discount for Chaplaincy Skills for Community Ministry Course Ends Soon
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 8/23/24)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) announces open registration for the Chaplaincy Skills for Community Ministry course for faith leaders that begins October 7. Discounted pricing is available until September 1. The six-week certificate program is designed to equip chaplains, pastoral counselors and specialized ministers with essential competencies in areas […]
Nominations and Recommendations for ABCUSA Officers Invited
The nomination process is now open for the positions of American Baptist Churches USA Officers for 2026-2027: President, Vice President, and Budget Review Officer. Thank you for your participation in this important part of the representative process. ABCUSA Officers Qualifications and Commitments Notes about the 2026-2027 nomination process: For the 2026-2027 Biennium, the ABCUSA […]
ABHMS Calls for Prayers and Donations for Relief Efforts Following Hurricanes Debby and Ernesto
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 8/19/24)—The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season spawned Hurricanes Debby and Ernesto in rapid succession, with both fierce storm systems carving paths of destruction on their respective journeys and leaving communities in desperate need of aid. After making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast August 5 as a Category 1 hurricane, Debby unleashed […]
ABC Minister’s Council Announces October 2024 Retreat
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 8/8/24)—The ABC Ministers Council will host its 2024 retreat and biennial meeting at the Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center in Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania. The retreat will begin with dinner on Monday, October 28 and conclude with breakfast on Thursday, October 31. All Ministers Council members as well as those interested […]
ABHMS Urges Prayers and Support in Response to the Devastation of Western Wildfires
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 8/2/24)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) offers prayers and concern for those in the path of raging wildfires in several states, where hot temperatures, low precipitation and gusty wind have made the land especially vulnerable to rapidly spreading conflations. Since July 5, active wildfires have been reported in California, Oregon, […]
ABCUSA Announces October Webinar Series with Domestic Violence and Mental Health Topics
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 8/1/24)—This October, American Baptist Churches USA invites you to three separate webinars on Tuesday evenings at 7:00pm ET, focusing on the topics of domestic violence and mental health. Plan now to join us for this series, including: Faith in Action: Pastors and Faith Leaders Role in Addressing Domestic Violence Tuesday, […]
Register Now for Being Baptist Online Course With Early Bird Discount Until July 31
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 7/23/24)— Registration is now open for the ABHMS Center for Continuous Learning online course Being Baptist: History, Identity & Polity. Over six consecutive weeks beginning September 3, the new cohort will explore the roots of Baptist history, the relationships between different Baptist groups, and the distinctive convictions of Baptist identity. […]
ABWM Calls New Executive Director
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 7/11/24)–The Rev. Dr. Christine A. Smith, National President of the American Baptist Women’s Ministries, made the following announcement: “On behalf of the American Baptist Women’s Ministries Executive Committee and Official Board of Presidents, we joyfully and unanimously announce the calling of the Reverend LaThelma Yenn-Batah as our next Executive Director. […]
ABHMS Calls for Prayers and Response to Hurricane Beryl
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 7/11/24)—Though Hurricane Beryl was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane before reaching Texas, the storm still wreaked havoc after making landfall. Devastating winds, rain and resultant flooding have claimed ten lives across Texas and Louisiana to date, a number expected to increase, and caused widespread power outages affecting millions. “We […]
