VDS Voices

A note from dean townes on staff transitions at Vanderbilt Divinity We are in a season of transitions as we begin a new academic year with a “new” building that has increased the Divinity School’s physical footprint that better reflects who we say we want to be based on… Read More

View the building dedication and convocation writeup, here, and photos from the events below, by clicking on the image. Read More

  Preface: We wrote this statement in light of a recent labor dispute, now resolved with support from Worker’s Dignity and the University and Divinity School. The conflict arose when a subcontractor of the primary construction company for the Divinity School renovation did not pay $66,000 owed to Armando Arzate… Read More

We are delighted to share that The Reverend Laura Mariko Cheifetz (pronouns: she/her) is joining the Vanderbilt Divinity Staff as Assistant Dean for Admissions, Vocation, and Stewardship. Laura’s first day will be August 15, 2019. Laura (center) walking the beach after the Progressive Asian American Christians conference with Ophelia… Read More

2018-19 Vanderbilt Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion Distinguished Alumni Award recipients Divinity School Recipient: Dr. James A. Sanders Claremont, CA Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN B.D.’51 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN .   B.A. ‘48  James A. Sanders was professor of intertestamental and biblical studies at the Claremont School of… Read More

By: Katherine H. Smith Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up… Read More

monthly message from emilie m. townes, vanderbilt divinity school dean One of the most exciting things I did as a youth was to vote in my first election. I asked my folks and other adults over and over again what they actually did behind that curtain. The idea that… Read More

What is community? I am standing here as the representative of our communal body to invite you all into our shared adventure, and as I attempted to write this speech I kept asking myself multiple questions. What did I need to hear as a first year? How do I… Read More

Photo: Reuters A statement from Emilie M. Townes, dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School, regarding the recent events in Gaza. I was shocked into speechlessness and a growing sense of horror, sorrow, and mourning when I opened up my Facebook feed on Monday morning. As the death toll and injury… Read More

Delivered by Emilie M. Townes, dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School on May 11, 2018 to the 2018 graduating class. i have no new words for you that you do not already know that you have not already heard that you not already seen or tried to live, if… Read More