Dr Stott acted as chair of the drafting committee for the Lausanne Covenant, a significant milestone in the evangelical movement. As chair of the Lausanne Theology and Education Group from 1974 to 1981, he contributed strongly to the growing evangelical understanding of the relation between evangelism and social action.
He was again chair of the drafting committee for the Manila Manifesto, a document produced by the second International Congress in 1989.
John Stott's commitment to the renewal of evangelicalism in the worldwide Anglican Church led to his involvement in the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion where he was honorary general secretary from 1960 to 1981, and served as president from 1986 to 1990.
His desire to strengthen ties between evangelical theologians in Europe was a key force in the founding of the Fellowship of European Evangelical Theologians in 1977.
His concern for the world's poor led to involvement in Tearfund, where he served as president from 1983 to 1997, and also Armonia in Mexico as patron.
He set up the Evangelical Literature Trust in 1971, and in 1974 a bursary fund was established (as part of the then recently formed Langham Trust). The Evangelical Literature Trust and the Langham Trust have now been amalgamated into the Langham Partnership International.
Perhaps John Stott's greatest international contribution has been through his writing. Stott's best-known work, Basic Christianity, has sold two million copies and has been translated into more than 60 languages.
Other titles include The Cross of Christ, Understanding the Bible, The Contemporary Christian, Evangelical Truth, Issues Facing Christians Today, The Incomparable Christ, eight volumes in The Bible Speaks Today series of New Testament expositions, and most recently Why I Am a Christian.
Dr Stott has said that he would greatly value prayers to be said for him in the challenges and opportunities involved in his latest transition.
He is also happy to reassure his friends that the Langham Partnership International - John Stott Ministries in the USA - is "well prepared to continue its work", even after his retirement.
Dr Chris Wright took over the leadership of the organisation from Dr Stott in 2001, and there is now a strong team of international programme managers and other staff and volunteers all over the world making sure that the work develops strongly into the future.
For further information, please visit www.langhampartnership.org/john-stott/biography
