March 4, 2015
For Immediate Release
By Zatoria Leavell, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — As part of Campellsville University's Baptist Heritage Lecture Series, Dr. Neville George Callam, general secretary and chief executive officer of the Baptist World Alliance, will speak at Campbellsville University at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24 at the Banquet Hall in the Badgett Academic Support Center at 110 University Drive, Campbellsville.
He will also be speaking at the university's chapel service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 25 at 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville. Both events are free and open to the public.
Callam has served as an educator and media manager, theologian and ecumenist, pastor and church administrator.
Dr. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, said, “We are honored to be hosting Dr. Neville Callam, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, and one of the key global leaders in the larger Baptist movement around the world.
“Dr. Callam will be sharing an update on the very important work of the BWA in all parts of the world in the Tuesday evening program. Then on Wednesday morning, he will deliver an inspiring chapel message that will call us to do more in advancing the kingdom of God in our own community and around the world.”
Chowning said Callam is making his second visit to Campbellsville University, and “we are grateful for his servant leadership and willingness to visit our campus and community. The Baptist witness around the world is enhanced by the missions and ministries of the Baptist World Alliance.”
Callam was born in St. Ann, Jamaica. His training for the Christian ministry took him to the ecumenical United Theological College of the West Indies, the University of the West Indies and Harvard Divinity School.
Ordained to the Christian ministry by the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) in 1977, Callam has served in pastorates in May Pen and Kingston, Jamaica.
He has held many leadership positions with JBU including vice president, president, treasurer and acting general secretary. He is also a former vice president of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, one of the six regional fellowships of the Baptist World Alliance.
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, thereby becoming the first church leader from the Caribbean to lead a Christian World Communion.
He has lectured at the Jamaica Theological Seminary, United Theological College of the West Indies and the Jamaica Institute of Management.
Callam was the founding director of the broadcasting company, National Religious Media Company of Jamaica. He has served as chairman of the board of directors of the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica.
Author or editor of seven books, the most recent being “Pursuing Unity and Defending Rights: The Baptist World Alliance at Work” (2010), Callam has made presentations at fora, symposia, seminars, workshops and services of worship in more than 70 countries.
He was one of the electoral observers serving on behalf of the United Nations in the elections in South Africa in 1994, which saw Nelson Mandela becoming president of that country. Married to Dulcie Allison for more than 30 years, the Callams are the parents of two adult children, Diedre and Gairy, and also have two grandchildren, Krista and Kari.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.