Dear alumni/ae and friends,
As a theological institution, the work, life, and writings of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., often find their way into our curricula. While the federal calendar pauses to commemorate his life on the third Monday of each January, King is one of the many theologians discussed within the walls of our building. What I love to emphasize when I have the opportunity to speak about Dr. King are those many years he served as a pastor. From 1960–1968, King co-pastored Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta with his father. It was the same church in which he had delivered his first sermon in 1947, and received his ordination in 1948.
In the course of his pastoral office, King offered hundreds of sermons, prayers, and blessings. He performed the many tasks germane to being a spiritual shepherd, including baptisms, weddings, and funerals. As a scholar, I take joy in reading his carefully prepared manuscripts connected to these sacraments of the church. We should rightfully marvel at the speech King delivered from the marble steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., or the prophetic letter he penned from the Birmingham jail in 1963. And yet, his other writings, intended for the congregation he loved and served, remind me that the work of justice which animated his all-too-brief life, was rooted and grounded in the ordinary and sacred rhythms of church life. And so, I share these words of a prayer King prayed over his congregation; words we need to hear now more than ever.
O God, in these turbulent days when fear and doubt are mounting high, give us broad visions, penetrating eyes, and power of endurance. Help us to work with renewed vigor for a warless world, for a better distribution of wealth, and for a brotherhood that transcends race or color. In the name and spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Best,
Yolanda Pierce, Ph.D.
Dean
Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair
Professor of Religion & Literature
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Join Dean Pierce for an interfaith and ecumenical breakfast conversation exploring how faith leaders can work towards the common good. This event welcomes all clergy, faith leaders, and religious lay leaders at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Room 124, Jan. 30, 8–9:30 a.m. Please RSVP by Jan. 27.
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We are thrilled to launch the Vanderbilt Divinity School Practitioner-in-Residence program, which will bring either a member of the clergy, a nonprofit leader, or a social justice activist each semester to mentor students and share their work. This spring semester, Rev. Lindsey Krinks, MTS’13, a street chaplain and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, will serve as the inaugural Practitioner-in-Residence.
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Catch up on recent books and podcasts written by and featuring Divinity School faculty.
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Shantell Hinton Hill, MDiv’16, celebrates the wisdom of Black women, lovingly known as Aunties, in her new book, Love, Auntie: Parables and Prayers for Sacred Belonging. Through modern-day parables, prayers, and prompts for reflections, she highlights how Aunties create space for doubts, questions, and the intersecting identities of race, gender, and class.
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Join professors James Hudnut-Beumler and James P. Byrd for a conversation on the American religious landscape in 1925, during the Scopes Trial, when John T. Scopes was found guilty of teaching evolution in Dayton, Tennessee. The event will take place at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Room 124, Jan. 29, 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
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Join Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jennifer Knapp and special guest Flamy Grant for a night of music, storytelling, and conversation at Benton Chapel, Feb. 6, 7–9 p.m. The concert will include a dialogue and Q&A exploring courage in action.
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Save the Date for the annual Bogitsh Lecture on Feb. 24, delivered by David A. Michelson, associate professor of the history of Christianity and Classical and Mediterranean studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. A reception will follow. Check our socials for updates.
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