Lausanne Movement leaders and American Bible Society leaders have worked together since 1989 through The Forum of Bible Agencies International (FBAI). FBAI, which grew out of The Second Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Manila 1989), brings together international Bible Agencies and other mission organizations with a shared vision of, “working together to maximize the worldwide access and impact of God’s Word.”

On November 20th, 2010, Lamar Vest, the Current President and CEO of the American Bible Society, located in New York City, announced the selection of his replacement:

We are thrilled to announce the selection of S. Douglas Birdsall as the 27th president and CEO of American Bible Society. Doug will succeed ABS’s current president and CEO, R. Lamar Vest, who announced his retirement nearly one year ago.

We are confident that Doug, who will begin his work with ABS in March 2013, is the person to lead us into our third century of ministry.

Building on 30 years of leadership focused on pointing people to the message of the Bible, Doug is the executive chairman of the Lausanne Movement. He is also the founding director of the J. Christy Wilson Jr. Center for World Missions at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Through his leadership with Lausanne, he chaired the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa, which brought together 4,200 church leaders from 198 nations.

The Rev. Billy Graham, Founder of The Lausanne Movement, said, “I am very happy to hear of Doug Birdsall’s appointment as the new president of American Bible Society . . . May God bless American Bible Society under Doug’s leadership as it explores new ways to bring God’s Word to this generation.

Before serving with Lausanne, Doug and his wife, Jeanie, served as missionaries in Japan with Asian Access and went on to serve as this mission organization’s president.

Doug and Jeanie have been married for nearly four decades, ministering side by side and raising three children. Doug holds a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College, a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell, as well as a Master of Theology from Harvard University. He is pursuing his doctorate from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.

We are excited for the future God is so graciously opening for us and look forward to Doug’s leadership and vision.

At the same time, Ram Gidoomal, Chairman of The Lausanne Movement Board of Director released an announcement confirmed Birdsall’s appointment and announced the search for his replacement as Executive Chair and CEO of the Movement:

According to Gidoomal, Birdsall has led Lausanne since 2004, a time in which the Movement has taken great strides toward its vision of, “the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole world,” and he has helped lay the groundwork for many productive years ahead.

In addition to his leadership of The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization: Cape Town 2010, Birdsall has increased international participation in the Movement, especially among younger leaders, and helped Lausanne better serve the global church with solid biblical thinking, strategic planning and practical resources for world evangelization. “Together Doug and the global leadership of Lausanne have established a firm foundation for the Movement’s continued growth and success to the glory of God,” Gidoomal explained.

“The Third Lausanne Congress: Cape Town 2010 renewed a passion in my heart to eradicate Bible poverty and see God’s word spread far and wide,” Birdsall said, upon accepting the new position. “I am honored that the ABS board has asked me to serve in this role.”

Recognizing this new call on Birdsall’s life, the Lausanne Board of Directors unanimously affirmed him for the new position. “We are pleased to commend Doug Birdsall to this new role at the American Bible Society, knowing he will be a great asset to ABS,” Gidoomal continued.

Birdsall will continue in his current role with Lausanne through February 2013. He will join American Bible Society in March 2013. A search for a new CEO for Lausanne is underway, with plans to have a new CEO in place shortly after the new year, allowing for a time of leadership transition.

“As Doug moves into this new role he takes with him the prayers and high esteem of the Lausanne Board and the entire Movement,” Gidoomal concluded. “We ask for your prayers as Lausanne’s Leadership Selection Committee seeks the Lord’s guidance. We are confident God will provide the right leader to take us into the next decade of effective ministry.”

Rev. Billy Graham, Founder of The Lausanne Movement, said, “I am very happy to hear of Doug Birdsall’s appointment as the new president of the American Bible Society. Under his leadership The Lausanne Movement has been strengthened and revitalized, and I pray that God will continue to use it to call the global Church to a renewed commitment to world evangelization. May God bless the American Bible Society under Doug’s leadership as it explores new ways to bring God’s Word to this generation.”

Lausanne Movement leaders and American Bible Society leaders have worked together since 1989 through The Forum of Bible Agencies International (FBAI). FBAI, which grew out of The Second Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Manila 1989), brings together international Bible Agencies and other mission organizations with a shared vision of, “working together to maximize the worldwide access and impact of God’s Word.” In addition, ABS was involved in crafting the “eradicate Bible poverty” emphasis at Cape Town 2010, which had a deep impact on Birdsall.

Birdsall first became involved with Lausanne in 1987 as a participant in the Younger Leaders Conference in Singapore. He has been a member of the Lausanne Board since 1999, and assumed the Chairman and CEO post in 2004.

ABS Board Chairman Pieter Dearolf stated that, “This position [with ABS] builds on Doug’s 30 years of leadership which have been focused on pointing people to the message of the Bible. We are excited to have found someone so well-suited for guiding the ministry into a new century of work around the world.”