Lee Spitzer

ABCUSA > Lee Spitzer

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.

Prior to his new call, Dr. Spitzer served as Executive Minister and Senior Regional Pastor of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey for 14 years. He encouraged the region to journey as a Christ-centered, mission focused and pastoral (loving) community of churches. From this vision, many new ministries were developed. Dr. Spitzer brings to his new position decades of pastoral experience; he was pastor of First Baptist Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, the Seaview Baptist Church in Linwood, New Jersey, and the First Baptist Church in East Providence, Rhode Island. He was ordained as an American Baptist minister in 1981. His Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees are from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and in 2016, he was awarded a PhD degree in Theology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the International Baptist Theological Study Centre.

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

Facing Jerusalem Podcast Series – A Lenten Series from ABC of Nebraska

Facing Jerusalem Podcast Series Join Pastors from the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska as they offer Biblical reflections from the Gospel of Luke during Lent 2024. Pastors who chose to participate in this special “Facing Jerusalem” Lent series are all preaching from the same passage each week. Some of them are also sharing in a […]

ABHMS Announces 2024 Merit Awards, Will Celebrate Recipients at Space for Grace & Spiritual Caregivers Conference 2024 Luncheon

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 3/1/24)—The Reverend Dr. Patricia Murphy, BCC, ecclesiastical endorser of American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) / American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA), is pleased to announce the American Baptist leaders in chaplaincy and specialized ministries who are receiving ABHMS’ four national ministry merit awards for 2024. They are: CH (CAPT) Richard […]

Love. – A Lenten Reflection Written by Rev. Dr. Cheryl F. Dudley

Love. Beloved, “9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”  (Genesis 4:9) God left the question that Cain spit out unanswered. Afterall, he had been caught – red-handed. When we do harm to another, sometimes we are caught red-handed. Other times, that which […]

ABCOPAD Calls New Executive Pastor

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 2/21/24)—The American Baptist Churches of PA and DE (ABCOPAD) Board of Directors met Tuesday, February 13, 2024, to unanimously affirm the Rev. Mark Mahserjian-Smith as the next Executive Minister for the region, effective immediately. Search team Chairperson and ABCOPAD Board President, Bryon Luke, said the search team, after a 10-month […]

A Generosity Project Reflection – Gathering Up the Fragments

The Generosity Project is a collaborative effort between ABCUSA, regions, and local congregations. The Generosity Project aims to help pastors re-frame the conversation around stewardship and generosity in their congregations. Bi-monthly blogs help support new growth and understanding as we deepen our ministry and discipleship. The reflection below was provided by Rev. Stacy Emerson. In the […]

An Unexpected Journey – A reflection by Rev. Dr. Robin D. Stoops

As we begin the 2024 Lenten season, read a reflection written by Rev. Dr. Robin D. Stoops, interim associate general secretary for Mission Resource Development, below. Isaiah 53:5 reminds us, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his […]

Burma Advocacy Group Delegation Meets with Chief Minister of Mizoram, India

AIZAWL, INDIA (ABNS 2/16/24)—On Wednesday, February 14, a significant event took place as a delegation of the Burma Advocacy Group, led by the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, General Secretary Emeritus of American Baptist Churches USA, held a crucial meeting with Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma, of the state of Mizoram, at his office in Aizawl, […]

Welcome to Our New General Secretary Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain

The ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary welcomes Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain as the next General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA! Dr. Jacobs-Strain was called as General Secretary of American Baptist Churches USA by the Board of General Ministries on November 4, 2023, and her service in this role begins today, on February 1, […]

ABHMS Announces Availability of Debt-Relief Grants for Eligible American Baptist clergy

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 01/31/2024)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) is pleased to announce the availability of up to 40 debt-relief grants of $5,000 to American Baptist pastors who engage in financial literacy education and have not previously received such a grant from ABHMS. Grant recipients can use these taxable funds toward relief from […]

Former ABHMS staff member, beloved champion of environmental causes and social justice the Rev. Dr. Owen Owens dies

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 01/31/2024)—The Rev. Dr. Owen D. Owens, 89, former director of ecology and racial justice at American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), died January 20, 2024, in Kennett Square, Pa. He was born September 25, 1934, in Fort Atkinson, Wis. An ordained Methodist minister, Owens dedicated much of his career, from […]