VANDERBILT DIVINITY SCHOOL: PUBLIC THEOLOGY AND RACIAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE from KevinSullyTV.com on Vimeo.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – “Reclaiming Our Time: Public Theology, Racial Justice and the Fight for Democracy” is the theme for the inaugural Summer Institute presented by the Vanderbilt Divinity School’s Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative June 4-8. The opening plenary session, June 4th at 1:00, pm features Congressman Jim Cooper for the keynote address. The closing plenary session, June 8th at 1:15 pm, features Judge Wendell L. Griffen, Circuit Judge for the 5th Division in the Sixth Judicial District of Arkansas for the keynote address. Both plenaries will be held at Vanderbilt’s Sarratt Cinema and are free and open to the public.
Registered participants can attend one of two teaching tracks daily: Social Trauma, Social Death or The Power of Truth-Telling: Stories and Practices from the Frontlines.
“America is in a kairos moment,” said Teresa Smallwood, associate director of the Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative. “It is a time of immense reflection, equipping and mobilization. The Summer Institute is designed to be the gathering place for those who discern the time. We are calling all scholars, students, clergy, community activists, community organizers, politicians, concerned citizens, artists and strategists to Nashville for the convening of the first cohort of what we envision to be a think tank of leaders invested in the soul of our democracy.”
Smallwood explained that public theology is the lens through which participants will explore current issues with scholastic vigor, intense debate, sound reasoning and measured, thoughtful engagement. “The Summer Institute is designed as an immersion experience where you will experience the life of the University, its unique landscape, its technology, and its multiple venues for learning while sharing best practices from a wide variety of racial justice proponents. Our aim this year is to equip participants to engage a wide public on the issues presented to racial minorities in the midterm elections.”