SBC, CBF, BWA, & Billiards
by Brian Kaylor
While trying to keep up with the Baptist alphabet and conflict I went online to do a little research. Mainly I wondered why the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC ) would pull out of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) because they accepted the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). My confusion was only made worse by the fact that I at first went to the website of the wrong BWA — the Billiards World Cup Association.
Other than the cool billiards graphics and upbeat music, I at first did not think this website had much to offer me. But upon further examination, I thought perhaps Baptists could learn from these billiards experts.
The Billiards BWA, though not nearly as old as the Baptist one, strives to uphold and communicate the sport’s long tradition and heritage, as well as bring others into the Billiards family. For the first several years peace reigned among the Billiards organizations. Then conflict arose between different groups that only wasted time, money, and energy. But thankfully after a few years the Billiards organizations from various countries came to a peaceful resolution. The BWA now leads tournaments around the world for three-cushion carom, a particular Billiards game.
Three-cushion carom is a quite challenging Billiards game, so I decided to learn from it and not try to learn it. After all, my Billiards games usually consist of little more than slop.
I did find it interesting that the secular organizations were much more adept at coming together to peacefully resolve conflict for the greater good of their mission than Baptists. The whole purpose of our BWA has been that diverse and different Baptist groups from around the world could come together for fellowship and missions.
There are groups much more different from the SBC than the CBF, so we should have no problem with their joining it. The SBC leadership, however, accuses the CBF of constantly attacking them. This was followed by Paul Pressler calling the CBF “a small, dissident, liberal group.” He and other leaders have consistently attacked and berated the CBF over the past several years.
If nothing else, SBC leaders should at least recognize that the animosity has been two-sided. And now is the time to let bygones be bygones and enter a bold new era where we work together as partners, not enemies. It may be difficult, much like three-cushion carom, but the SBC should at least give it a shot rather than take their ball and go home.
Patterson, Pressler, and other SBC leaders have now blackballed the BWA and suggest it is time for the SBC to withdraw. They have already partially defunded the BWA and will probably finish the job next year. They plan to use the funds to build a global network of like-minded individuals. But who could be more like-minded than the Baptist World Alliance we helped start nearly 100 years ago?
It is too bad the SBC leaders cannot take a cue from the secular BWA and learn to work with others. Billiards is a fun game, and whenever someone throws a fit (or a stick) over losing, I am simply not impressed. Likewise, I yearn for a return of the days when being a Baptist was fun, and losing rounds did not end friendships.
We may disagree and get upset at one another, but regardless what happens I hope we always return to the table. We must not lose the opportunity to fellowship and work together on our common mission. But for now I may just join the Billiards World Cup Association. I do not expect to get any better, but at least I will find myself in the middle of a lot less slop.
by Brian Kaylor , pastor of Union Mound Baptist Church in Elkland, Missouri, and Special Assistant to the Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri.