Elisha's Bears: Conversations about Baptists and the Church with Pastor Danny

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Dr. Paul Baxley on the occasion of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's 35th anniversary. They reflect on the Fellowship’s origins and history, ongoing mission, and the challenges facing the church today. Paul shares personal stories, discusses the importance of diversity, as well as noting key biblical passages that support women in ministry. He also comments on the challenging political landscape and the difficulty this poses for pastors and congregations. He emphasizes that the focus and emphasis of the local church and the Fellowship should always be Jesus Christ. Paul is Executive Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and previously has served churches in Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Remembering people and events is important. Today we recall the reckless generosity of an unnamed woman whose actions are located in all four gospels. Her name is not mentioned nor are there any recorded words from her in that situation. More importantly, however, is that what she did remains as a testimony of love for Jesus. Her actions in that moment continue to be told "in memory of her." In a similar way, what is done for Jesus will remain long after we are gone.

In this episode, Pastor Danny interviews Dr. Lovett Weems about the history, challenges, and future of the United Methodist Church. They talk about the recent schism in the UMC relating to disaffiliation, and its emotional and practical impact on the mission and ministries of the denomination. After serving as Pastor of UMC churches in Mississippi, Lovett became President of St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. In 2003, he became founding Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. He is now Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership Emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. His most recent book is entitled, "An Aura of Hope: United Methodism's Next Chapter in the United States."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility

00:55 Personal Connections and Mississippi Roots

02:09 Discussion of Disaffiliation in the UMC

03:42 Historical Context of Church Divisions

06:45 The 2019 Disaffiliation Process

08:39 Church Polity and Property Rights

11:48 Role of the General Conference

17:23 Lessons from Church Splits and Future Hope

22:59 Moving Forward with Hope and Wesleyan Principles

32:27 Lessons for Other Denominations and Closing Remarks

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Dr. Mark Gstohl about their shared experiences in the Southern Baptist Convention and at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Mark recalls the influence of and his exit from the SBC. He and Danny also reflect upon Paul Pressler's influence upon the SBC, especially in light of the recent article from Texas Monthly documenting the numerous sexual abuse allegations against him. Mark discusses his current project "Dirty Stories about God" which is a memoir about his family and how God's grace is discovered in ordinary, difficult, and unexpected places. Mark holds the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy (Systematic Theology, 2001) degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is an Associate Professor of Theology at Xavier University in New Orleans and you can follow him and find his musings on Facebook.

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Rev. Linda Barnes Popham about how she and her church were voted out of the Southern Baptist Convention in June 2023. She recalls the pain and confusion with the SBC’s decision to ban women pastors, especially in light of her already having more than 30 years of experience as a Southern Baptist pastor. Linda also expresses gratitude for the support of those who have affirmed her calling and welcomed her church into new denominational partnerships. She affirms God’s faithfulness and the positive outcomes that have taken place since their expulsion from the SBC. This conversation also explores issues of gender, doctrinal purity, church autonomy, and the future of women in ministry. Linda serves as Pastor of Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, a position she has held for more than three decades. The New Yorker documentary about the SBC's decision to ban her, other women pastors, and their churches which can be found here: https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/hold-the-line.

In this episode, Pastor Danny explores the deeper meaning of the Psalms with Dr. Rebecca Poe Hays. She talks about their structure, authorship, and relevance for prayer and faith. Rebecca recalls her own faith journey and call to ministry, and how the Psalms have impacted the faith community in general. She and Danny take a deeper dive into Psalm 22 and the words from Jesus on the cross, "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?" Rebecca also explains how the Psalms should not be taken in isolation from each other but comprise an overall message of God's faithfulness through struggle and hardship. These ancient songs continue to teach us about God's character and our relationship with Him. An ordained Baptist minister, Rebecca is Associate Professor of Christian Scriptures (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament) at George W. Truett Theological Seminary on the campus of Baylor University.

In this heartfelt interview, Pastor Danny talks with Rev. Kris Hicks, who talks about the unexpected death of his father at a young age. Their conversation highlights the importance of faith, community support, and remembrance. Kris shares how his faith in Christ and the legacy of service his father left continue to inspire and guide him through life's challenges. Kris currently serves as Minister of Youth and Young Adults at First Baptist Church in historic Clinton, TN.

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed, professional certified coach to clergy and congregations. Laura talks about her doctoral research on moral injury and soul repair in the United Methodist Church, and the challenges relating to finishing her degree. She also references the unique challenges faced by women clergy, citing examples of demeaning and dismissive remarks often cited to them. Danny and Laura also refer to practical advice for women clergy and ways to support women in ministry. Laura is a graduate of the University of TN (go Vols) and the Candler School of Theology. She will be receiving the Doctor of Ministry degree in June 2026 from Lexington Theological Seminary. For more information about Laura and her ministry, go to laurastephensreed.com. Her writings are also available on Substack.

Pastor Danny begins a second year of Elisha's Bears with reflections on the significance of Easter. He talks about the resurrection of Jesus and its implications for faith, joy, and personal life. Danny also highlights the role of women as the first witnesses of the resurrection and how this detail points to its validity. He also references how churches tend to be more fearful than joyful, despite the admonition of Jesus to do the latter. Danny shares insights from Scripture, personal stories, and the importance of personal invitation and belief.

In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Ben Neal about the spiritual journey of Holy Week, the significance of lament and the importance of presence and authenticity in ministry. Their conversation explores themes of suffering, hope, and the meaning found in pain for faith practitioners and seekers. They also talk the importance of Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem during Passover and the meaning of Psalm 22 in connection to Jesus' crucifixion. Ben is an ordained Baptist minister who serves as a chaplain in the Knoxville area. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Carson-Newman University and a Master's degree from Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology.