Legendary theologian and evangelist Rev Dr John Stott has announced his decision to retire from public ministry at the age of 86.
Dr Stott said that the final engagement of his illustrious career will be an address at the upcoming Keswick Convention in July.Dr Stott is revered the world over for his ministry life. The world famous evangelist Rev Billy Graham testified him as “the most respected clergyman in the world today”.
Dr Stott, who founded the Langham Partnership International, was confirmed into the Anglican Church in 1936 and has since enjoyed working in a wide range of activities and organisations.
He held the position as chair of the Church of England Evangelical Council from 1967 to 1984, and has also been the president of two hugely influential Christian organisations, the UK branches of Scripture Union from 1965 to 1974 and the Evangelical Alliance from 1973 to 1974.
Dr Stott combined his commitment to evangelism and his fostering of future Christian leaders by involving himself in the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, where he was president four times between 1961 and 1982.
He also served as chaplain to the Queen from 1959 to 1991 and received the rare honour of being appointed an Extra Chaplain in 1991.
He will now be moving home from his flat in Bridford Mews, London, where he has lived for more than 30 years, to a retirement community for Anglican clergy in the south of England which will be able to provide more fully for his present and future needs.
Dr Stott has explained that he has made this decision with the strong belief that it is God’s provision for him at this stage.
One of Dr Stott’s major contributions to world evangelisation was at the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelisation held at Lausanne, Switzerland.
