VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/22/10)—In a recent press release, the Baptist World Alliance announced that Denton Lotz, former general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), will receive the BWA Human Rights Award during the Baptist World Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii, from July 28 to August 1.
"American Baptists celebrate BWA's choice of Dr. Lotz as the recipient for this prestigious award by the world Baptist family," said General Secretary Roy Medley. "As General Secretary of the BWA, Dr. Lotz was an untiring advocate for religious liberty for persecuted Baptists whether in the former communist countries of Europe, or in the Middle East, or in Asia. As a former ABC missionary to Europe during the communist era, he was sensitized to the costly nature of naming Christ as Lord for many Baptist Christians and was committed to working not only for their fundamental human right of religious freedom, but for the religious liberty of all."
The BWA release goes on to state that Lotz, who was BWA general secretary from 1988-2007, led the international Baptist organization in some of its groundbreaking actions and decisions on racism, religious freedom, and other issues of human rights.
Lotz helped to initiate the formation of a Special Commission on Baptists against Racism and Ethnic Conflict, which was formed in 1992 in response to race-related riots in Los Angeles in the United States and racial and ethnic conflicts in other countries. The commission produced the Harare Declaration, which was adopted by the BWA General Council during its meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1993, where Baptists pledged to "expose and challenge the sin of racism."
Under Lotz's leadership the BWA planned an International Summit of Baptists against Racism in January 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. Delegates from approximately 30 countries drafted and affirmed a statement declaring a "decade to promote racial justice," beginning in 2000, and urged BWA member bodies to promote efforts to eradicate racism and fight against ethnic conflict worldwide. The "Atlanta Covenant" called on Baptists to become "agents of reconciliation" and work for integrated worship, holistic evangelism, the elimination of unfair trade and protection of the rights of aboriginal and tribal peoples.
The former BWA leader also initiated or led human rights visits to several countries, and has met a number of world leaders to discuss issues of human rights in their respective nation, such as with former presidents Fidel Castro of Cuba, Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, and Lech Kaczynski of Poland.
Lotz often protested human rights abuses to the ambassadors of countries where such human rights were undermined, and made representations to the United Nations and various government officials on the behalf of oppressed peoples.
It was under Lotz's leadership that the BWA emphasized its observation of Human Rights Day in December of each year, as well as the inauguration of an annual Human Rights Award to a Baptist who has made significant contribution in advancing human rights in his or her life, work and ministry.
The move to create the Division of Freedom and Justice (F&J) started under Lotz's tenure several years before it was brought into being. The division was formally inaugurated on September 1, 2008, following on a decision of the BWA General Council in Prague, Czech Republic, in July of that year. The F&J division addresses issues of human rights and religious freedom, and coordinates the relationship between the BWA and the United Nations, where the BWA holds membership in several UN agencies.
Lotz has also served as president of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA). In 2009, he received the International Religious Freedom Award from the IRLA and Liberty magazine for making religious freedom a major focus of his ministry as a church leader and church statesman.
Approximately 10,000 Baptists from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the 20th Baptist World Congress at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu where the award will be presented to Lotz.
Click here to view the original BWA press release.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.