Baptist World Alliance Leader Will Present the 2017 Willson-Addis Lecture

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Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321

WACO, Texas (March 24, 2017) – Neville Callam, Ph.D., general secretary and chief executive officer of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), will present this year’s Willson-Addis Lecture at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 28.

Callam, a Jamaican native, has been associated with the BWA since 1985. In 2007 he became the first person from the Global South to be appointed as the general secretary and chief executive officer of the BWA, becoming the first church leader from the Caribbean to lead a Christian World Communion. He is the author or editor of seven books and has made presentations in more than 70 countries.

“The seminary is very appreciative of the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. James McCorry Willson for establishing these lectures in practical theology in honor of their daughter, Ora Eugenia Willson Addis for the purpose of examining topics in the broad area of practical Christianity each year at Truett Seminary,” said Brian Brewer, Ph.D., associate professor of Christian theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Callam oversees the BWA, a fellowship of 235 Baptist conventions and unions in 122 countries and territories comprising 45 million members in 177,000 churches.

“Callam is in demand throughout the globe, where he has addressed institutions, denominations and churches in more than 70 countries,” said Brewer.

His lecture entitled "The 'Essential Oneness' of a Christian World Communion: The Case of the Baptist World Alliance" will address the Christian idea of unity in his long experience with the BWA.

The lecture will take place at Paul W. Powell Chapel at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, 1100 S. Third St. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Truett website.

by Kelsey Dehnel, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

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