Ben Crosby
@benjamindcrosby.bsky.social
Prayer Book Protestant | Anglican (TEC) | Priest | PhD Student, Ecclesiastical History (McGill University)
Reposted by Ben Crosby
"Examine and do not even listen if they speak of the glorified Jesus, unless you have first heard of the crucified Jesus."
@benjamindcrosby.bsky.social quoting Martin Luther in this new and insightful article:
www.plough.com/en/topics/fa...
@benjamindcrosby.bsky.social quoting Martin Luther in this new and insightful article:
www.plough.com/en/topics/fa...
Am I a Christian if I Don’t Have Spiritual Experiences?
Christians often desire ecstatic encounters with the divine. But not everyone has them.
www.plough.com
September 17, 2025 at 10:58 AM
"Examine and do not even listen if they speak of the glorified Jesus, unless you have first heard of the crucified Jesus."
@benjamindcrosby.bsky.social quoting Martin Luther in this new and insightful article:
www.plough.com/en/topics/fa...
@benjamindcrosby.bsky.social quoting Martin Luther in this new and insightful article:
www.plough.com/en/topics/fa...
Let's say non-political and non-theological opinion
For every like, I will post one non-political opinion
July 24, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Let's say non-political and non-theological opinion
Good thread here, which echoes some of my own complaints about CPE — less the training itself, and more how it functions in how we think about pastoral care.
I am increasingly convinced that Clinical Pastoral Education, as currently presented, is an outdated, subpar method of preparing clergy to provide pastoral care and should be changed or the canonical requirement removed. ⚓️
July 23, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Good thread here, which echoes some of my own complaints about CPE — less the training itself, and more how it functions in how we think about pastoral care.
Reposted by Ben Crosby
The latest longform episode of All Things Necessary is out. Join me and @benjamindcrosby.bsky.social as we talk about the 39 Articles and some of Ben's writings on "reconfessionalization." ⚓
youtu.be/2YLwY113gns
youtu.be/2YLwY113gns
The 39 Articles of Religion - Anglicanism
YouTube video by All Things Necessary
youtu.be
July 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The latest longform episode of All Things Necessary is out. Join me and @benjamindcrosby.bsky.social as we talk about the 39 Articles and some of Ben's writings on "reconfessionalization." ⚓
youtu.be/2YLwY113gns
youtu.be/2YLwY113gns
Had a great time talking about the Articles of Religion today with @dljohnston.bsky.social for All Things Necessary! ⚓
July 9, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Had a great time talking about the Articles of Religion today with @dljohnston.bsky.social for All Things Necessary! ⚓
Reposted by Ben Crosby
Some thoughts from me on scriptural interpretation and the need to take it seriously. I owe @benjamindcrosby.bsky.social
praise for his recent writing on this topic which got me thinking more about this question - if you don't read his substack, you should! ⚓
praise for his recent writing on this topic which got me thinking more about this question - if you don't read his substack, you should! ⚓
"Sleep here that you may see what John saw"
On taking scripture seriously
open.substack.com
July 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Some thoughts from me on scriptural interpretation and the need to take it seriously. I owe @benjamindcrosby.bsky.social
praise for his recent writing on this topic which got me thinking more about this question - if you don't read his substack, you should! ⚓
praise for his recent writing on this topic which got me thinking more about this question - if you don't read his substack, you should! ⚓
A Substack from me, asking what it might mean to approach the Scriptures with a posture of 'teachability' ⚓
On becoming teachable
Thoughts on Scripture, receptivity, and mastery with help from John Calvin
bencrosby.substack.com
June 30, 2025 at 6:50 PM
A Substack from me, asking what it might mean to approach the Scriptures with a posture of 'teachability' ⚓
A new Substack from me: what does it mean for Christian life that we exist in a context in which the richest and most powerful companies in the world are constantly competing to ever-more-effectively seize our attention? ⚓
The War on Attention is a Spiritual War
Thinking theologically about the attention economy
bencrosby.substack.com
June 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
A new Substack from me: what does it mean for Christian life that we exist in a context in which the richest and most powerful companies in the world are constantly competing to ever-more-effectively seize our attention? ⚓
Looking back, I think I’ve learned since ordination that the church qua institution is significantly worse than even my most cynical take — and God’s grace given to us in Jesus much richer and stronger than I had understood. ⚓️
June 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Looking back, I think I’ve learned since ordination that the church qua institution is significantly worse than even my most cynical take — and God’s grace given to us in Jesus much richer and stronger than I had understood. ⚓️
Four years in holy orders today! ⚓️
June 5, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Four years in holy orders today! ⚓️
Reposted by Ben Crosby
Did you know that Jane Austen wrote one of the prayers included in the appendix of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: International Edition?
May 30, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Did you know that Jane Austen wrote one of the prayers included in the appendix of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: International Edition?
Excellent reflection on presiding at Holy Communion from the north side of the table. It is my preferred way to preside. ⚓
Reflections from the North Side - The Anglican Way
One of the theological maxims is ‘Convention is not canon’. Just because a practice is normative does not mean that it is required. I have always been
anglicanway.org
May 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Excellent reflection on presiding at Holy Communion from the north side of the table. It is my preferred way to preside. ⚓
Finishing today the church history serious I've been doing with my parish since last September. 'A Great Cloud of Witnesses': every week, we read and discuss a bit by a significant theologian or otherwise important Christian figure. This is the list we've gone through. ⚓
May 27, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Finishing today the church history serious I've been doing with my parish since last September. 'A Great Cloud of Witnesses': every week, we read and discuss a bit by a significant theologian or otherwise important Christian figure. This is the list we've gone through. ⚓
A new Substack from me, thinking about what older models of the use of Scripture in pastoral care might have to teach us today. ⚓
On Scripture and Pastoral Care
with some help from seventeenth century Zürich
bencrosby.substack.com
May 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A new Substack from me, thinking about what older models of the use of Scripture in pastoral care might have to teach us today. ⚓
it's gotta be Germany
May 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
it's gotta be Germany
That’s why I say we’re irenic, sacramental reformed Protestants.
One of my pet peeves about being an Episcopalian is when people describe us as “Catholic Lite.” We are not lite. We are a different tradition. “Lite” implies a lack of seriousness.
And sure we have people who aren’t very engaged, but so does every tradition.
And sure we have people who aren’t very engaged, but so does every tradition.
May 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
That’s why I say we’re irenic, sacramental reformed Protestants.
It’s gotta be having faith continually worked in my heart by the Holy Spirit using word and sacrament, tbh.
May 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM
It’s gotta be having faith continually worked in my heart by the Holy Spirit using word and sacrament, tbh.
Local organization shocked that the pope is, in fact, Catholic.
New Pope Leo blasts non-religious people, saying (quite shockingly) that 'lack of faith' comes from 'the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity'
We'll remain composed in the face of such abject nastiness, but it's untrue to say the least
We'll remain composed in the face of such abject nastiness, but it's untrue to say the least
A hateful thing to say. People whose approach to life is not faith-based have done enormous good, majority non-religious societies have been some of the strongest proponents of human dignity and solidarity. Why is the BBC just printed this unchallenged? If it's "news", it should be balanced.
May 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Local organization shocked that the pope is, in fact, Catholic.
A new Substack from me! If you have ever wondered "so what does a church history PhD student actually DO all day?", here's an example of a recent finding I made and how I made it.
On John Boys' portrayal of an early Wittenberg dispute
A historical research case study
bencrosby.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 1:21 PM
A new Substack from me! If you have ever wondered "so what does a church history PhD student actually DO all day?", here's an example of a recent finding I made and how I made it.
A new piece of mine in the Anglican Way that might be of interest: on the Elizabethan Church of England's doctrine of ministry, and what might be worth retrieving about its focus on the pastoral role as fundamentally about preaching and teaching. ⚓
Anglican Doctrine of Ministry - The Anglican Way
Early magisterial Protestant leaders were stuck between two extremes in articulating their doctrine of the ministry. On one hand, the Church of Rome’s claims
anglicanway.org
May 7, 2025 at 7:19 PM
A new piece of mine in the Anglican Way that might be of interest: on the Elizabethan Church of England's doctrine of ministry, and what might be worth retrieving about its focus on the pastoral role as fundamentally about preaching and teaching. ⚓
This is reminding me of Luther’s complaint that Henry VIII didn’t want to get rid of the pope but rather be his own pope
May 3, 2025 at 8:05 AM
This is reminding me of Luther’s complaint that Henry VIII didn’t want to get rid of the pope but rather be his own pope
If you were wondering how things are going in the Diocese of Montreal, commenting was just turned off on a post about the upcoming episcopal election, because people were asking about misconduct allegations concerning several candidates about which the diocese has refused to comment. ⚓
May 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
If you were wondering how things are going in the Diocese of Montreal, commenting was just turned off on a post about the upcoming episcopal election, because people were asking about misconduct allegations concerning several candidates about which the diocese has refused to comment. ⚓
My wife Sarah has written a really excellent piece for Plough on what Christians owe strangers in need, drawing upon her own experience working with refugees and upon the history of Christian thought. Alas — a very timely piece right now. ⚓️
“If I Go Back, They Will Kill Me”
What helping refugees in Greece and Nevada taught me about generosity and hospitality.
www.plough.com
April 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
My wife Sarah has written a really excellent piece for Plough on what Christians owe strangers in need, drawing upon her own experience working with refugees and upon the history of Christian thought. Alas — a very timely piece right now. ⚓️