Why I'm Starting a PhD…
Well, now you know. I’m starting a PhD. I noted toward the end of last year that I was working on a large project that would take up some...
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Shepherding Thoughts
by Pastor Ben Francis
Welcome to Shepherding Thoughts: An inside look at a Southern Baptist Pastor's comments on navigating popular topics in Christianity and Religion.
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Ben Francis
- Jun 19
- 12 min
The 2023 Southern Baptist Convention: In Review
The 2023 Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana June 13-14, has now come and gone. My first comment is: New...
422 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- May 25
- 5 min
2023 Southern Baptist Convention: A Preview
In just a few weeks, the Southern Baptist Convention will gavel itself into session in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a reminder, the...
143 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Feb 23
- 5 min
Was Disfellowshipping the Right Move? Yes.
On Wednesday, February 22, 2023 the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention reported out that it had voted to Disfellowship...
210 views1 comment
Ben Francis
- Dec 2, 2022
- 8 min
The State of the SBC: A Mid-Year look…
This post will be lengthy, but I hope to provide an accurate summation and overview of SBC happenings at present… Things Going Well… 1 -...
75 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Sep 1, 2022
- 11 min
Has Big Eva Made Too Much of her Human Leaders?
“Big Eva” …Big Evangelicalism. The structures and Institutions that make up American Evangelicalism with all of its power, prestige, and...
79 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Aug 12, 2022
- 3 min
SBC Under Investigation: The U.S. DOJ Investigates the SBC
The U.S. Department of Justice Investigates the SBC According to Baptist Press and the Baptist Standard, “The Southern Baptist Convention...
207 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Jun 7, 2022
- 4 min
Why the Southern Baptist Convention Needs R. Albert Mohler in 2022
The Southern Baptist Convention has entered a period of instability. The cracks have been showing for some time, but the last year has...
223 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Nov 1, 2021
- 5 min
Can the Southern Baptist Convention Change?
Organizations and Power: A Question for the Southern Baptist Convention. Do Grassroots Movements Work? Can an organization truly be a...
114 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Oct 26, 2021
- 4 min
Should Mike Stone sue Russell Moore?
Some thoughts… On Wednesday, October 20, 2021 Baptist Press broke the story that Pastor Mike Stone is suing former ERLC President Russell...
219 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Sep 21, 2021
- 1 min
The Cover-Up Continues as the Rabbit Hole Gets Deeper
Today, September 21, 2021, a letter was posted from Jennifer Lyell to the SBC Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, who...
503 views3 comments
Ben Francis
- Aug 11, 2021
- 12 min
Elitism and Power in the Southern Baptist Convention
Some follow-up thoughts... Is there a power problem in the Southern Baptist Convention? Is there a culture of elites? When someone...
236 views1 comment
Ben Francis
- Aug 9, 2021
- 8 min
SBC 2021 in Review: Part 6 The Forest and the Trees...A Path Forward?
As we bring this series to a close, it will be helpful in this final post to think of each of the specific issues in the first 5 posts as...
88 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Jul 11, 2021
- 7 min
Sexual Abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention
SBC 2021 in Review: Part 5 Sexual Abuse in the SBC The Story Breaks... In 2019, The Houston Chronicle Newspaper ran a series of stories...
189 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Jul 5, 2021
- 4 min
Critical Race Theory and Race Relations
SBC 2021 in Review: Part 4 Critical Race Theory and Race Relations Race continues to plague the SBC just as it does the wider culture....
309 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Jul 1, 2021
- 3 min
Southern Baptist Convention: Presidential Uncertainty and Factionalism
SBC 2021 in Review: Part 3 Presidential Uncertainty and Factionalism One of the reasons why this year’s meeting was so well attended was...
175 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Jun 27, 2021
- 5 min
What is the Southern Baptist Convention?
SBC 2021 in Review: Part 2 What is the Southern Baptist Convention? In one sense, the Southern Baptist Convention consists of churches...
198 views0 comments
Ben Francis
- Jun 26, 2021
- 1 min
The 2021 Southern Baptist Convention In Review…
Many things were swirling as messengers from thousands of Southern Baptist Churches made their way to Nashville, Tennessee for the 2021...
244 views0 comments
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