VDS Voices

On Thursday, June 18, 2015, Pope Francis released Laudato Si’, in English Praise Be to You: On Care for Our Common Home. This encyclical is the first to address the sweeping consequences of anthropogenic climate change, and it presents Pope Francis’ pastoral commitment to the integral flourishing of all… Read More

Our monthly Alumni/ae Tuesday Guest Post has expanded! We’re proud to present #VDSGiving. We have invited VDS and GDR alumni/ae to write about what their Divinity School education meant to them, and to also write about the impact of the scholarship assistance they received. Our goal is to demonstrate how scholarship support… Read More

Each month, we ask a member of the Vanderbilt Divinity School faculty to recommend a book they are currently reading. Our January recommendation is offered by Forrest Harris, Associate Professor of the Practice of Ministry and Director of the Kelly Miller Smith Institute on the African-American Church.      … Read More

Bishop Joe E. Pennel, Jr,  Professor of the Practice of Leadership, writes about his concern for the chaos in today’s world and his attempt to understand the source as informed by the faith that gave birth to the Church. Fear is a sign of our time in history. Fear… Read More

Our monthly Alumni/ae Tuesday Guest Post series on the VDS Voices blog highlights posts written by VDS and GDR alumni/ae. Hear firsthand about their important work in the community, collaborations with other alumni/ae and faculty, and much more. Be sure to also check out the Divinity School Instagram feed every Tuesday… Read More

The long quiet has settled in the halls of the Divinity School. Students depart to visit family and friends across town and around the world. Faculty retreat to cozier spaces to grade papers and prepare for the new term. Around our building, the staff is keeping the lights on, holding… Read More

My experience of my first semester at Vanderbilt University Divinity School has been one of inverted expectation, though (now) beautifully so. I came here as a second-career student, determined to be the scholar that I hadn’t been eight years ago as an undergraduate; I know my purpose for being in… Read More

My first Thanksgiving in the United States of America coincided with my first 100 days at a time in this country. Perfected timing. I too joined the chorus of Americans in celebration of this day. What am I thankful for this year? November 26, 2015, as I sit around… Read More

Prospective master of divinity and master of theological studies students are invited to join Dean Emilie M. Townes and a featured faculty member for an informal dinner and faculty research presentation. On Tuesday, 3 November 2015, Jaco Hamman, director of the Program in Theology and Practice and associate professor… Read More

by Kimberly A. Goins, MTS1 As I reflect upon my first year experience at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, I cannot help but think what I wrote in my personal statement: I want to pursue the master of theological studies degree because I have a myriad of ideas… Read More