-- Religion News Service
Baptists Reelect Official
The Baptist World Alliance has reelected its general secretary, the Rev. Denton Lotz, to another five-year term.
Lotz, whose new term will begin in 2005, recently addressed members attending the alliance's first General Council since the Southern Baptist Convention voted to withdraw its funding and membership from the global body based in Falls Church.
"We wish to affirm again, for all to know, our adherence to the historic doctrines of our faith," he said, affirming their belief in salvation solely through Jesus Christ.
Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, which officially ends its relationship with the alliance Oct. 1, said the alliance was no longer presenting such a "crystal-clear Gospel message."
At the meeting, held July 26-31 in Seoul, Lotz referred to the alliance's plans to move ahead.
"This has been a tremendous year of encouragement and support but also deep waters and a break in our fellowship which has caused great distress, especially in our minority conventions around the world, but we have to go forward," he said in a news release issued by his organization.
Baptists attending the meeting passed a resolution acknowledging the contributions of the U.S. denomination to the formation of the alliance in 1905 and expressing their regret for the Southern Baptist withdrawal, calling it "a compromise of the worldwide testimony of all Baptists."
They also voiced their support for efforts to reduce poverty worldwide and concern for the division of families between North and South Korea.
-- Religion News Service
