A capacity crowd of 750 Baptists gathered in the ballroom of a Washington, D.C., area hotel last week to honor the life and ministry of Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, as he plans to retire. The theme of the evening was “Thanks Lotz.” Lotz, a member of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, became general secretary in 1988, having the joined the organization as director of evangelism and education in 1980.
Denton and Janice Lotz
Following a banquet meal for which the gathered Baptists demonstrated genuine enthusiasm, a brief synopsis of Lotz's life, including his education, family and ministry, was presented. Highlighted was his service in Eastern and Central Europe as a missionary of the Board of International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches, USA. During years as a missionary, Lotz also taught missions and homiletics at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
Photographs of Lotz with world-wide political and religious leaders were projected onto two large screens, demonstrating the influence he has exerted in his nearly two decades of service. His commitment to evangelism, social justice and Baptist principles were recurrent themes as international Baptist leaders spoke of Lotz's contribution to Baptists' global witness for Christ.
Family members, including his sons, John-Paul and Carson, and sister-in-law Anne Graham Lotz (who is married to Denton's brother, Dan) shared personal reflections. Anne also read a letter of congratulations from her father, Billy Graham, who said in part, “The Lord raised you up for such a time as we've been through. Your strong leadership and personal faith has been an inspiration and blessing to me. The fact that you are related through marriage, that you are a member of our board of directors, and because of our long-time association with the Baptist World Alliance, all give me a special reason to honor you on the occasion of your retirement. Not only will the Baptist World Alliance miss you, but your ecumenical leadership will be missed throughout the world church.”
Anne Graham
Lotz
Recognizing Lotz' tireless humanitarian efforts, Wallace Charles Smith, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington, D.C., challenged those in attendance to participate in the final push to endow the Denton Lotz Human Rights Award. The endowment will pay transportation expenses in bringing recipients to BWA gatherings to receive the award.
Theo Angelov, former Bulgarian Baptist Union general secretary, cited Lotz's encouragement as a key factor in sustaining Baptist churches during the Soviet era. “The biggest miracle we have seen in our lives is the survival of the church in Eastern Europe. This was due to the mercy of the Lord. Gerhard Claas [Lotz' predecessor] and Denton Lotz brought the message that we were not alone …. I would like to thank Denton especially. He was the messenger that brought us hope. So this is the BWA: A family in spite of all the diversity.”
Tom Corts, former president of Samford University of Birmingham, Ala., presented a special gift. Careful to point out that it was purchased with money contributed by Lotz's friends and not from BWA funds, Corts presented the Lotzes with the keys to a new Chrysler Pacifica.
In responding, Lotz expressed his appreciation and issued a plea for unity. “One of the great doctrines of the Christian faith is unity …. therefore, I would pray with you and plead with you to work for the unity of Baptists. Jesus prayed that we might be one and this was an evangelistic prayer. Why should we be one? That the world might believe! Our lack of unity means that the world cannot believe.”
In a concluding postscript, Lotz referred to a night when his wife, Janice, was out of town overnight. Feeling lonely and somewhat uneasy about being alone, he began to reflect on the nights Janice was alone as he traveled. Realizing that she had spent an equivalent of 10 years without him, he decided it was time to retire and be with her.
The BWA's general secretary search committee, which began its work in March of last year when Lotz revealed his retirement plans, will announce next week at the executive committee meeting its recommendation as Lotz's successor.