News

“Your leadership is tied to what you can imagine,” said Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture Jaco Hamman when addressing a room of faith leaders, alumni, and faculty at a recent Vanderbilt Divinity School community breakfast. Hamman also serves as the director of the program in theology and practice… Read More

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — April 1, 2026 — Vanderbilt University Divinity School has received a generous commitment from an anonymous donor family to establish the Clearing the Path Fund, created to help current Divinity students navigate unexpected financial challenges while continuing their theological education and formation. The Clearing the… Read More

This is for those who have submitted their applications, waded into the ankle-deep waters around their home or on the street, looked up through the trees, and turned down the music on the drive home to find the way around the neighborhood of their heart (see previous blog post). Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity School is excited to host Rep. Harold Love Jr., (MTS ’98) as its Spring 2026 Practitioner-in-Residence (PIR). Each semester, the Divinity School invites a member of the clergy, a nonprofit leader, or a community activist to be “in residence” with its community. The PIR hosts sessions about their… Read More

A new book from Stephanie Budwey, an assistant professor of the history and practice of Christian worship and the arts, discusses the erasure of intersex people in the areas of science, law, culture, and theology due to the assumption that all humans are either ‘female’ or ‘male.’ Read More

Dean Emilie M. Townes’ Fall Convocation remarks, as delivered on August 26, 2022 each opening convocation, we have begun by remembering those who have died since we were last together in May and to celebrate the new births during this time as well today, we remember those killed… Read More

In the spirit of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming, the program engages 7th and 8th grade Black girls in two weeks of classes that support their socio-emotional development while developing somatic and academic literacies. Read More

A reflection from our dean, Emilie M. Townes, for July 2022: With the early release of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision written by Justice Alito in May, we knew what the opinion would be. The finality of the end to the constitutional… Read More

Pastor Darin Freeman of Tabernacle Baptist Church walks around the old property which recently sold at 2214 12 Avenue South in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Two years ago the church moved to 6801 Charlotte Pike. NICOLE HESTER / THE TENNESSEAN Originally published at 9:00 p.m. CT July 19,… Read More

Bone-deep love calls us to live our lives out of the possibilities found in wholeness, self-reflection, justice, peace, a new heaven and a new earth, hope and not our shortcomings—that rest on greed, self-centeredness, avarice, coveting, despair. Amazing love moves us to grow in compassion, understanding, and acceptance of each other. A far better place to be morning by morning and day by day. Read More