In the summer of 2006, just a year after the Cornwall Alliance began (initially under the name of Interfaith Stewardship Alliance), I joined a variety of scientists, economists, and other scholars in publishing A Call to Truth, Prudence, and Protection of the Poor: An Evangelical Response to Global Warming. That prompted many talk show hosts to interview me on the subject.
In some interviews, I explained that, rather than making hurricanes more frequent or stronger, global warming should reduce them.
Because I was a seminary professor, not a scientist, many people dismissed me. Some phoned me, often with anger and ridicule, saying I had no business voicing an opinion on the matter because I wasn’t formally trained in meteorology or climatology. (None of them were, either.)
One afternoon, my seminary office phone rang, and when I answered, a deep voice started out, “Dr. Beisner, you don’t know me, but my name is Neil Frank, and I was the longest-serving Director of the National Hurricane Center ….”
“Oh no,” I thought, “now I’m in for it!”
But Dr. Frank continued, “… and I’m just calling to tell you, you’re right about hurricanes. Stick to your guns. Don’t let anyone intimidate you.”
As I remember it, we talked for close to half an hour. Dr. Frank, who at the time was chief meteorologist at KHOU-Houston (1987–2008), explained that global warming driven by greenhouse gases happens mainly toward the poles, in winter, at night, not toward the equator, in summer, in daytime. So, it reduces the difference in temperature between equator and poles. Since the role of hurricanes in Earth’s climate is to transport heat from equator toward poles, less temperature difference would make hurricanes weaker, on average.
In that call, Dr. Frank talked extensively about climate change, supporting the position of A Call to Truth. He also pointed out that while he was NHC Director (1974–1987), he attended Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, which sponsored the seminary.
That phone call was the start of a friendship and collaboration that lasted nearly 20 years. Dr. Frank was one of the most encouraging, helpful, and instructive of the many scientists I’ve known. A passionate disciple of Christ, he became a Senior Fellow of the Cornwall Alliance, wrote articles for us, and even supported us with very generous financial gifts.
Dr. Frank was a scientist’s scientist. Even after his retirement, he continued to stay current on developments in climate science, wrote about it, and spoke often to the public about it. He was still advising me, his mind as sharp as ever, right up through late last fall.
Neil died December 24, 2025, one day after entering hospice care, at age 94. You can read about his career and see the high regard in which colleagues held him here and here. We at the Cornwall Alliance remember him with love and admiration.
Donations to the Cornwall Alliance and Neil’s honor can be made at www.CornwallAlliance.org/donate; please use Promo Code Neil.
