Elisha's Bears: Baptists, Theology, and the Church

Danny Chisholm
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Weekly

Join Danny Chisholm as he has conversations with pastors, theological educators, and other ministry leaders. They talk about issues facing the church, how faith intersects with daily life, and Baptist theology. He has a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology and years of ministry experience. Danny has been Pastor of churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), American Baptist Churches (ABCUSA), and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). He's also an avid coffee drinker and likes going on walks in his weighted vest.

  1. 23h ago

    The West Wing: Religion and Politics in a Primetime Presidency

    In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Rev. David Graybeal about his book "Faith in the West Wing: The Portrayal of Religion in a Primetime Presidency.” David talks about how the show portrays faith, politics, and public service. Through episodes including “In Excelsis Deo,” “Take This Sabbath Day,” and “Shibboleth,” they talk about the Baptist distinctive of church-state separation, religious diversity, forgiveness, and the show's enduring idealism. David is an author and ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and is a graduate of the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, GA. He is currently serving as Senior Pastor of Signal Crest United Methodist Church in Signal Mountain, TN. You can find his musings on Facebook (Faith in the West Wing) and the book is available on Amazon.

    The West Wing: Religion and Politics in a Primetime Presidency

  2. Oct 20

    What Ordination Should Require in Baptist Churches

    In this episode, Dr. Pam Durso discusses the history, significance, and process of Baptist ordination. The conversation references ordination for Baptist pastors and deacons, but with particular attention to those going into vocational ministry. Pam refers to the unique aspects of women's ordination and how the Baptist principles of local church autonomy and the priesthood of believers are important influences on the process of ordination. Pam also reflects upon her own ordination story and offers insights to how ordination shapes ministry and community perception. Pam is President of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Overland Park, KS. Prior to this position, she served as Executive Director of Baptist Women in Ministry (2009-2020). A professor and author, Pam has undergraduate and Ph.D. (Church History) degrees from Baylor University, with a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

  3. Trailer

    Elisha's Bears Podcast: The Trailer

    Pastor Danny offers a brief description of the Elisha's Bears podcast and himself as the host of the show. He is a free and faithful Baptist with an ecumenical spirit, and invites people to grab some coffee (or tea), pull up a chair, and join him in learning more about issues that face Baptists and the church in general.

  4. Oct 6

    When a Successful Pastor Left the Church: What Happened Next?

    In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Dr. Bill Ireland about his book "Driven: A Field Guide to the Wilderness." They have a conversation about faith, ministry, and Bill’s emotional and spiritual struggles caused by the resignation of his last pastorate. Bill also reflects on how all his difficulties and disappointments impacted his wife and his daughter. He also offers valuable insights for anyone facing unexpected challenges or spiritual droughts. Bill graduated with an undergraduate degree from Mississippi College, and with M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He's served Baptist churches in MS, KY, LA, GA, and NC and is now Pastor of Norris Religious Fellowship in Norris, TN. You can find him on Facebook and his book on Amazon.

  5. Sep 29

    Gender, Abuse, and Ministry: Reconsidering the Samaritan Woman’s Story

    In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Dr. Caryn Reeder about her book "The Samaritan Woman's Story: Reconsidering John 4 after #churchtoo. Caryn examines how the Samaritan woman's story has been interpreted through history and what it reveals about women in biblical times and ministry today. She also talks about the church's response to issues of gender, abuse, and interpretation. Caryn is Professor of New Testament and Co-Coordinator of Gender Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Her research interests include household, gender, and violence in the Bible and biblical world. She has a B.A. from Augustana College, M.A. in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College, and the M.Phil. (OT) and Ph.D. (NT) degrees from the University of Cambridge.

  6. Sep 22

    How Texas Baptists Stopped a Fundamentalist Takeover for Decades

    In this episode, Pastor Danny welcomes Dr. David R. Currie, a prominent figure in Texas Baptist history, to share his experiences and insights from over two decades of leadership of Texas Baptist Committed. David recalls how the organization was founded amidst a fundamentalist shift within the Southern Baptist Convention. He highlights the importance of communication and collaboration among Texas Baptists, noting how they rallied to protect their institutions and uphold the autonomy of local churches. As the conversation shifts to the present, David expresses concern over the current state of Texas Baptists and the lack of a unified voice championing the causes Texas Baptist Committed once fought for. He calls for a return to the core principles of autonomy, religious liberty, and historical Baptist values, urging current leaders to reflect on what it means to be truly Baptist in today's context. He is a retired Baptist minister, rancher, and business owner, holding the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy (Ethics) degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (thumbnail pic is with his granddaughter Ashleigh).

  7. Sep 15

    What a Pizza House Taught Two Pastors about Church Culture

    In this episode, Pastor Danny talks with Dr. Matt Snowden and Dr. Joshua Hayes about their new book Soul Culture: Stewarding the Five Ingredients of our Common Life. They share insights on how to cultivate a thriving church culture that reflects core beliefs and values. This concept emphasizes the need for church leaders to foster a strong culture within their congregations, especially during challenging times. Matt and Josh serve on staff together at First Baptist Church in Waco, Texas; Matt as Pastor since 2010 and Josh as Associate Pastor of Discipleship since 2017. They also serve as Adjunct Faculty at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. You can find their book at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHCP31Q3?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback.

  8. Sep 1

    Navigating Leadership, Loss, and the Surprising Call of God

    In this episode, Rev. Melissa Hatfield shares her journey of calling, leadership, and faith as the first female Lead Pasfor of the church she grew up in. She talks about the process and journey of serving on staff as Student Pastor and then becoming the Lead Pastor. She recognizes and reflects upon the legacy of Dolly Parton, and discusses her experiences navigating ministry as a woman. Melissa also talks about the weight of ministry; she led the church through COVID while grieving the death of her friend and pastor as well as the unexpected death of her sister. She also talks about her role in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and her hopes for its future. Melissa is Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church, Jefferson City MO and is Moderator-Elect of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and https://substack.com/@melissahatfield.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Join Danny Chisholm as he has conversations with pastors, theological educators, and other ministry leaders. They talk about issues facing the church, how faith intersects with daily life, and Baptist theology. He has a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology and years of ministry experience. Danny has been Pastor of churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), American Baptist Churches (ABCUSA), and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). He's also an avid coffee drinker and likes going on walks in his weighted vest.

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