BWA. “I believe that the BWA continues to have the vocation of giving expression, and bearing witness, to Baptist unity in Christ,” he told the more than 2,500 participants from 82 countries attending the congress in Durban. “The BWA has the calling to model this unity in our life as a denominational community and to serve as a vital instrument that helps Baptists overcome fragmentation and division.” At the same time, Baptists ought to recognize that they are

part of a wider global community of Christians, with Callam declaring that Baptists share with “other Christians in the one body of Christ.” In a final appeal, Callam urged Baptists to commit to the

core principles of the BWA, which are preaching the Good News of the kingdom, practicing responsible Christian discipleship, defending those who are persecuted and identifying with people in need not only by contributing to their relief, but also by working to remove the systems and structures that perpetuate injustice. Callam challenged Baptist Christians to “keep the word of

God in our hearts and [to] model a loving and united movement of Baptist Christians,” going “forward as a people who are united in God our Savior.” The 2020 celebration will, for the first time, combine the

Baptist World Congress with the Baptist Youth World Conference. It will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

As discouraging and disconcerting as our differences are, we

are called to acknowledge them. What are some of our differences as Caribbean and as Baptist people? Our geography, our history and our liturgy; our different personalities, spiritual experiences and most importantly, our spiritual gifts. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:4 says there are diversities of gifts, differences of operations and administrations. We must acknowledge these. Even more, we are to appreciate

BAPTIST UNITY Despite Differences By Anslem Warrick

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aribbean people have much in common. We are the people who came; we all arrived and are derived. We were rooted up from somewhere and brought here. We are similar

in our growth from slavery to emancipation to colonialism to independence. We share a common space. We are one in more ways than one. As Baptists we are one people. This oneness is not based on

our name, our history, our geography or even our liturgy, but our common experience of being recipients of God’s amazing grace. Biblical unity is not about being in one location or about having the same worship styles; it is not about having the same creed or being of the same race. Christian theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer says Christian unity

consists of what Christ has done for us. Christ is the basis of our communion. Martin Lloyd Jones says Christian unity is the result of a shared faith in Christ. Paul, writing in Ephesians 4:3-6, sets forth the basis or elements that make up the foundation for Christian unity: one Lord, one faith, one body, not always visible, baptized by one Spirit into the one God and Father of us all. We are captivated by the love of God expressed in the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Baptist unity is not something coerced or contrived. It

expresses outwardly the reality of an inward spiritual condition. It is a gift endowed by the Holy Spirit. Baptist unity may not always be apparent but it is real, it is there.

Differences

Am I asking that we disregard our obvious differences? Does true unity disregard diversity? I state emphatically, no. Real unity is not unaware of, does not run away from, diversity.

and celebrate these genuine cultural, geographical and liturgical differences, to the extent they are not motivated by selfish pride or destructive intentions. That is how we grow, learn and change. We seek to understand, cooperate and partner. Real unity is not uniformity. It is a deep and meaningful appreciation of our God- given uniqueness, location, history, experiences, talents and gifts. These differences pose grave challenges to Baptist unity, not

only in the Caribbean. We see each other as enemies and treat each other with distrust and mistrust. There is the “we’re better than/they’re not as good as us” mentality. We cannot allow these to destroy our essential unity as God’s

people. Neither can we browbeat, coerce or force members into shallow uniformity. We should allow our essential unity of spirit to be manifested and expressed even in the midst of our differences, allowing the Holy Spirit to show us how to creatively solve these problems. Real unity is a thing to behold. David, after having brought the

12 warring tribes together for the first time into a single nation, exclaimed in utter joy, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” This encourages us to look at, study and examine togetherness, unity and fellowship. Unity is good and it is of God. Unity is pleasing to the human soul. There is a beauty, an

effusiveness, to unity. It does not stop where it is seen, it flows down. There is a fragrance to unity. There is a lingering quality to it, a sweet smelling savor that lingers, like good perfume. There is freshness to unity. It refreshes the soul. Unity leads to productivity, to service to God and man. The Caribbean Baptist Fellowship is the God-given vehicle for

the expression of service to God among Baptists in the Caribbean. Coming from an island where Baptist witness is not as prominent, I am personally blessed every time we meet for worship and fellowship with the wider Baptist body. I learn, I grow, I am refreshed. Excerpts from a presentation by Anslem Warrick at the

Caribbean regional meeting during the Baptist World Congress in July. Warrick is generally secretary of the Baptist Union of Trinidad and Tobago and newly installed vice president of the BWA.

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New BWA Vice President Anslem Warrick of Trinidad and Tobago addressing the Caribbean regional meeting during the congress