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eSpire Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 1 - September 2010
What
a Roman Catholic, neo-orthodox, existentialist, evangelical,
liberationist Christian learned at Vanderbilt Divinity
School
Justin Rosolino
MDiv ’10, recipient of the Wilbur F. Tillett Prize for
Theology
Hello, I’m Justin Rosolino, and I’m a Roman Catholic,
neo-orthodox, existentialist, evangelical, liberationist Christian
who has been heavily influenced by Eastern Orthodox theology.
I am hopeful I just made everyone in the room feel both included
and confused… that seems to be my life’s story.
In fact, I think one the most accurately descriptive statements
that I can make about myself is that I have never been blessed with
a good amount of ‘common sense.’ I seem to have a
talent for making bizarre choices and muddying things up along the
way. I don’t know, maybe it’s this post-modern
distrust for all things linear, neat, narrow and common sensical
that made me so attracted to Johann and Christoph Blumhardt, two
Lutheran pietists whom I discovered I during the Karl Barth class
with Professor DeHart.
(Read more from What a Roman
Catholic Learned - Click here)
Ecology
James Hudnut-Beumler
Opening Worship
August 25, 2010
Psalm 24 and Job 38: 1-7
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness
thereof.
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.
That is a big thought.
You see, my friend Walter Brueggemann says that the portion,
“and the fullness thereof,” is not just a throwaway
line. Instead it is an intensifier. It might be best
translated for our ears as “the earth is the Lord’s
— and that means all of it!”
That is a very big thought indeed.
And this is the place we gather each week that school is in
session to think big thoughts, and to pray big prayers, and to make
big commitments. Welcome to Wednesday community worship at the
Divinity school.
(Read more from Ecology - click
here)
Exploring the Adventures of Summer
From Megiddo, Israel to Nogales, Mexico and everywhere in between,
Vanderbilt Divinity and Graduate Department of Religion students
spent the summer actively engaged in the creation of new knowledge
and the broadening of their understanding and awareness of
theological issues facing today’s society. The scarcity and
power of water, immigration, and peace in the Middle East were
among the topics many of our students wrestled with outside the
walls of Vanderbilt. We invite you to explore with us the
adventures that took place in northern Israel and on the border of
Mexico and Arizona through photos provided by our Megiddo diggers
and “A Line in the Sand” Maymester course
participants.
(See pictures from The Megiddo
Expedition - click here)
(See pictures from A Line in the Sand-
click here)
COME BACK
It’s the perfect time to
reminisce, rekindle, and reconnect with your Vanderbilt Divinity
School classmates. Please
make your plans now to attend.
GIVE BACK
Making a
Reunion gift is a great expression of gratitude for your
theological education. Every dollar you give is an investment in
the rising generation of religious leaders, scholars and community
advocates. Please make your gift today.
If you are interested in volunteering with Homecoming/Reunion,
please contact Meagan Burton-Krieger at meagan.burton-krieger@vanderbilt.edu
or at 615-322-6749.
We are looking forward to seeing you in October!
VDS
welcomes new director of admissions and student services
Katherine Smith is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and
grew up cheering for the Commodores. After graduating with an
A.B. in English from Princeton University, she worked for several
years helping college graduates explore public service through
Princeton Project 55, Inc. (now AlumniCorps.) Sensing a call
into ministry, Katherine completed a M.Div. at Duke Divinity School
in Durham, NC, and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church
(USA). Most recently, she served under Leadership Education
at Duke Divinity as Director of the Duke Youth Academy for
Christian Formation, a summer program for high school students
exploring faith and vocation. Katherine is married to Bart
Smith, a native of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas.
Alumna takes on new role as executive director of
development and alumni/ae relations
Kitty Norton Jones came to Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1995 as a
student. After receiving her master of divinity degree in 1998, she
remained at the Divinity School as administrative assistant for the
Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality, and the Kelly
Miller Smith Institute on Black Church Studies. In 2001, she became
the administrative assistant in field education. Then, in 2003 she
joined the Divinity School development and alumni/ae relations team
where she helped restart the Divinity School reunion program and
the Mills-Buttrick congregational giving society. Kitty is ordained
in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She is married to Douglas E.
Jones. Kitty accepted the position of Executive Director of
Development and Alumni/ae Relations for the Divinity School in
April of 2010 after Beth Boord joined the Medical Center
Development and Alumni Relations as Assistant Vice Chancellor for
Children’s Health in March.
Full-time assistant director of development and
alumni/ae relations turns attention to increased alumni/ae
engagement
Meagan Burton-Krieger joined the Vanderbilt Divinity School
Development and Alumni/ae Relations team in December as Assistant
Director. She relocated to Nashville after receiving her M.Ed. from
the University of Vermont in Higher Education Administration and
Student Affairs to join her partner, Eric, a third year master of
divinity student at Vanderbilt. Upon graduation, Meagan became an
accreditation consultant and assisted her undergraduate alma mater,
Albion College, in preparation for their ten year on-site visit.
Meagan brings a broad breath of knowledge to the development office
from her work within the Provost Office at the University of
Vermont, her service on the Albion College Board of Trustees, and
several internships in the areas of admissions, athletics, and
development. Originally from South Carolina, Meagan has enjoyed her
return to the South.
Vanderbilt Divinity School in the News
Vanderbilt News:
FTE
awards prestigious fellowship to Vanderbilt Divinity
student
Anthony Sandusky, a rising second-year master's of divinity
candidate, has been awarded a $10,000 fellowship by The Fund for
Theological Education to support his future in the ministry.
National Geographic News:
Noah’s Ark found in Turkey?
A team of evangelical Christian explorers claim
they’ve found the remains of Noah’s ark beneath snow
and volcanic debris of Turkey’s Mount Ararat. But some
archaeologists and historians are taking the latest claim that
Noah’s ark has been found about as seriously as they have
past ones—which is to say not very. Jack
Sasson, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies and
Hebrew, is quoted. Sasson was also quoted in the story reported by
UPI
.
Christian Century:
Habits of anti-Judaism
Ted Smith, assistant professor of divinity, and
Amy-Jill Levine, Carpenter Professor of New
Testament Studies, co-authored this opinion piece examining the
ways anti-Jewish sentiment persists even among the most
well-intentioned Christian organizations.
Baptist Standard:
Physical and spiritual exercise meet in NIA, Divinity student
says
Claire K. McKeever-Burgett, Master of Divinity candidate at
Vanderbilt Divinity School was featured by the Baptist Standard in
an article about faith and fitness.
Out & About:
Vanderbilt
hosts HRC scholarship class
The last week of July is fairly quiet on college
campuses, but the Human Rights Campaign got some conversations
going at the Vanderbilt University Divinity
School. The national civil-rights organization has created
its Scholarship and Mentorship Program for Religion and Theological
Study, with the inaugural class’s summer institute held at
Vanderbilt.
PBS:
Thistle
Farms
This report about Thistle Farms and Magdalene House
includes an interview by founder Becca Stevens,
Episcopal chaplain at Vanderbilt’s St. Augustine Chapel
Make Plans to Attend
Vanderbilt Divinity School Calendar of
Events
Community Breakfast
Notes from the Border: Theological Reflections on
Immigration
With Viki Matson, Director of Field Education and Assistant
Professor of the Practice of Ministry
September 23, 2010
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Vanderbilt Divinity School Reading Room
Relevant Religion Series
Be Joyful Though You Have Considered All the Facts: Honest
Hope and Environmental Crises
Presented byEmily Askew, Adjunct Professor, Vanderbilt
Divinity School 2010-2011 and Assistant Professor of Systematic
Theology, Lexington Theological Seminary
September 27, October 4, and October 11, 2010
Vanderbilt Divinity School
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Cole Lectures
Thursday, October 21, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
What Happened at Vatican II
Friday, October 22, 2010, 10:00 a.m.
Interpreting What Happened at Vatican II
Presented by The Reverend John W. O'Malley, S.J., University
Professor in the Department of Theology, Georgetown
University
Vanderbilt Divinity School
Benton Chapel
Homecoming/ Reunion 2010 – October 21-23,
2010
Thursday, October 21
Class of 1960 50th Reunion lunch
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Tillett Lounge
Reunion welcome and registration
4:30–6:30 p.m.
Tillett Lounge
Check in and enjoy wine and cheese with old friends.
Alumni/ae and friends reception
Following the Cole Lecture
Divinity School Reading Room (the former refectory)
Friday, October 22
Coffee and doughnuts
8:30 a.m.
Divinity School Reading Room (the former refectory)
Alumni/ae and faculty memorial service
9 a.m.
All Faith Chapel
Reunion class lunch
11 a.m.
Divinity School Reading Room (the former refectory)
Cost: $10 per person
Reunion class chair and volunteer meeting
1:30 p.m.
Divinity School Reading Room (the former refectory)
Check in begins at 1 p.m.
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