#faculty beating

So SACSCOC is for BJU what NCAA can be for BJU. 

And most worrisome to the BJU employees is the clear abandonment of BJU’s sine qua non, Separation. Ring responds:

In reality, we frequently enter into non-spiritual engagement with unbelievers who view life from a different worldview in many areas. The most obvious example is our recent affiliation with SACSCOC. The majority of SACSCOC members promote lifestyles and worldviews in direct conflict with ours. As we interact with these peers, our institutional mission and biblical worldview afford us the opportunity to show forth the light of the Gospel. Our athletic mission, in support of the University mission, affords us the same opportunity through the platform of sports.

So BJU sees SACSCOC and NCAA as parallel. 

And there’s the schedule. 

Application by 1/15/18--highly likely we will be accepted

Exploratory Year, 9/1/18--much like regional accreditation for the athletic department only

Provisional Years, 9/1/19–22--brand use of NCAA is permissible

Member NCAA DIII, 9/1/23--latest possible date-full membership

Ring explained further:

Practically speaking, there is no post-season opportunity in NCAA DIII until you are a fully vested NCAA institution. It would be hard to recruit students to come if we were only NCAA—they wouldn’t have any post-season play until we become NCAA. We can potentially have an entire graduating class that never played in post-season.

What does BJU mean by “ministry”? It uses the term synonymously with “branding.” But here’s another clearer definition from Ring:

Why stay in DII NCCAA? We can use sports for ministry; BJU has moved into several leadership opportunities and is impacting the organization, and they are happy to have us there. We want to continue having that positive voice in this Christian association.

BJU does plan to stay in their current DII NCCAA. Why?

Ministry! If there’s ever an iffy reason for doing anything, BJU plasters the ambiguous “ministry” as the motivation. The Museum & Gallery is a ministry. The School of Health Professions is a ministry. Chuck Phelps teaches in the Ministry classes at BJU. Carl Herbster is an example of ministry. The BJU Bruins at NASCAR is a ministry too!

So BJU knows its enrollment is bad. They know their reputation is bad. What else is bad?

Alumni donations.

And they think NCAA membership will fix that because:

People understand a very simple message that we’re NCAA, and they give to that more.”

in spite of all the potential hiccups with LGBTQ diversity, Sunday Play, and “discipleship” limitations, BJU is committed to joining the NCAA. 

Why?

The same reason it wants a School of Health Professions. The same reason it wanted to get SACSCOC accreditation. 

To elevate its reputation. To give themselves an air of legitimacy.