Benton Chapel on the Vanderbilt Divinity School campus, 2007
Photo: Dieckhmj, Wikimedia CommonsThis story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and the Nashville Post. The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. Visit nashvillebanner.com for more information.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm'2?56C3:=E &?:G6CD:EJ 92D 4@?7:C>65 E92E E96 '2?56C3:=E s:G:?:EJ $49@@= 92D 366? A=2465 :?E@ C646:G6CD9:A] s62? *@=2?52 !:6C46 2?5 s6AFEJ !C@G@DE %C246J v6@C86 :?7@C>65 E96 4FCC6?E DEF56?ED 2?5 724F=EJ :? 2? 6>2:= %F6D52J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“#646:G6CD9:A :D 2 E6>A@C2CJ 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 2CC2?86>6?E :? H9:49 E96 F?:G6CD:EJ @G6CD66D 2 D49@@=’D @A6C2E:@?D :? @C56C E@ C6EFC? :E E@ :?56A6?56?E[ 962=E9J DE2?5:?8[” E96 >6DD286 C625D] “%96 8@2= :D E@ A@D:E:@? E96 5:G:?:EJ D49@@= 7@C C6?6H65 :?G6DE>6?E 2?5 8C@HE9]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“pD 2 =2HJ6C[ x <?@H 7C@> =:G65 6IA6C:6?46 E92E ‘C646:G6CD9:A’ :D :?E6CAC6E65 E@ >62? 32?<CFAE4J[ 3642FD6 :? E96 C62= H@C=5[ C646:G6CD9:A >62?D 32?<CFAE4J[” v6@C86 E6==D E96 k6>m}2D9G:==6k^6>m k6>mq2??6Ck^6>m] “qFE :? 9:896C 65F42E:@?[ :E’D >@C6 =:<6 2 4@CA@C2E:@? H96? E96J’C6 5@:?8 2 C6G:6H @7 E96 @C82?:K2E:@?2= DECF4EFC6 @7 @?6 @7 E96:C F?:ED]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv6@C86 D2JD !:6C46 2?5 E96 724F=EJ H:== C6E2:? 4@>A=6E6 2FE9@C:EJ @G6C E96 5:G:?:EJ D49@@=’D 24256>:4D] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“%96 562? :D DE:== E96 562?[” D96 D2JD] “%96 724F=EJ 2C6 DE:== E96 724F=EJ]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv6@C86 56D4C:36D E96 AC@46DD 2D “4@==23@C2E:G6” 2?5 D2JD E96 F?:G6CD:EJ H:== @G6CD66 @A6C2E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 “CF??:?8 E96:C 3F586E[ 7:8FC:?8 @FE 9@H E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2?286 E96:C DA246[ 7:8FC:?8 @FE H92E E96:C 4@>>D 2C6 2?5 9@H E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2?286 E96:C DEF56?ED 2?5 DE277]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“xE’D ?@E E96 <:?5 @7 C6@C82?:K2E:@? E92E 32?<CFAE4J :>A=:6D[” D96 D2JD] “qFE 92G:?8 E2=<65 E@ 6?@F89 2=F>?: 23@FE :E ?@H[ x 2AAC64:2E6 H9J :E 42? 42FD6 2?I:6EJ] $@ C646:G6CD9:A 96C6 :D 2 A2E9 E@ C6;FG6?2E:@?] xE’D 2 H2J 7@C E96 F?:G6CD:EJ E@ :?G6DE >@C6 :? E96 D49@@=]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv6@C86 24<?@H=6586D E96 DEC6DD E96 AC@46DD 42? 42FD6] $96 255D E92E 24C@DD E96 ?2E:@?[ E96@=@8:42= 65F42E:@? :D :? 2 5:77:4F=E A=246[ D2J:?8 56>2?5 92D 564=:?65 @G6C E96 A2DE EH@ 564256D] $96 D2JD E92E 2D A6@A=6 2C6 =6DD =:<6=J E@ 2EE6?5 49FC49[ E96C6’D 2? 244@>A2?J:?8 564C62D6 :? 8C25F2E6 65F42E:@? 7@C 49FC49 =6256CD] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“xE’D 2 C62==J :>A@CE2?E >@>6?E[” v6@C86 D2JD] “x7 H6 H2?E E96 D49@@= E@ =:G6 7@C 2?@E96C `ad J62CD[ H6 ?665 E@ E9:?< 92C5 23@FE H92E E96 7@4FD @7 E96 D49@@= H:== 36 2?5 H92E H6 ?665 E@ 5@ E@ E2<6 E96 DE6AD ?646DD2CJ E@ AC@E64E :E]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv6@C86 D2JD E96 C646:G6CD9:A H:== =2DE 7@C EH@ J62CD 2E >@DE] $96 255D E92E @E96C 56A2CE>6?ED 92G6 4@>A=6E65 E96 C646:G6CD9:A AC@46DD :? E96 A2DE[ 2?5 @?6 :D 4FCC6?E=J 8@:?8 E9C@F89 E96 AC@46DD] p D@FC46 H:E9:? E96 F?:G6CD:EJ :56?E:7:65 E96 D64@?5 AC@8C2> 2D E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 %6249:?8 2?5 {62C?:?8 2E !623@5J] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“tG6CJ 24256>:4 F?:E E92E 92D 8@?6 E9C@F89 C646:G6CD9:A 2E '2?56C3:=E 92D 6>6C865 DEC@?86C 2?5 :D E9C:G:?8 E@52J[” v6@C86 D2JD] “(6 2C6 >2<:?8 E92E D2>6 :?G6DE>6?E :? E96 5:G:?:EJ D49@@= ?@H[ 2?5 H6 6IA64E E96 D2>6 C6DF=E]”k^Am
k9b 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmu24F=EJ !6CDA64E:G6k^9bm
kAm$@>6 '2?56C3:=E DE277 6IAC6DD H2C:?6DD 23@FE E96 E@A\5@H? ?2EFC6 @7 E96 C646:G6CD9:A[ 766=:?8 E92E E96 C62D@?:?8 2?5 C2E:@?2=6 7@C E96D6 >@DE C646?E C646:G6CD9:AD H6C6 5:776C6?E E92? 7@C E9@D6 :? E96 A2DE] %96D6 4FCC6?E C646:G6CD9:AD :?G@=G6 H6==\6DE23=:D965 A2CED @7 '2?56C3:=E] $E277 A@:?ED E@ !623@5J’D DE2EFD 2D 2 E@A\E:6C D49@@= @7 65F42E:@?[ 2D H6== 2D '2?56C3:=E s:G:?:EJ $49@@=’D 8C2G:E2D 2?5 9:DE@CJ] x? E96 7246 @7 564=:?:?8 7656C2= 7F?5:?8[ E9@D6 AC@76DD@CD 766= =:<6 E96 F?:G6CD:EJ D9@F=5 7F?5 E9@D6 D49@@=D :?DE625 @7[ :? @?6 6>A=@J66’D H@C5D[ “=62G:?8 ,E96>. E@ 5:6 @? E96 G:?6]” $E277 >6>36CD 2C6 H@CC:65 E92E E96 56A2CE>6?ED 4@F=5 =@D6 >@C6 7F?5:?8 2?5 AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp? 6>A=@J66 H9@ DA@<6 2?@?J>@FD=J E@ AC@E64E E96:C ;@3 A@:?ED E@ '2?56C3:=E’D FD6 @7 7F?5D @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^3FD:?6DD^G2?56C3:=E\D9F77=6D\6I64FE:G6\=6256CD9:A\2D\?6H\J@C<\42>AFD\@A6?:?8\=@@>D^2CE:4=60g`4_4agc\c7dh\ca5d\ghd`\4ebh22e2755_]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm?6H 42>AFD6D :? }6H *@C<k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^3FD:?6DD^65F42E:@?^G2?56C3:=E\2??@F?46D\56E2:=D\@7\D2?\7C2?4:D4@\A=2?^2CE:4=60b5376g27\465`\c2_2\g2ac\_4ggh43ffc3b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm$2? uC2?4:D4@k^2m C2E96C E92? 7@4FD:?8 @? E96 6DE23=:D965 D49@@=D E96 F?:G6CD:EJ 2=C625J 92D] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“(6 DA6?E D@ >F49 >@?6J 3F:=5:?8 E96 r@>>@?D[ C:89En” D2JD E96 6>A=@J66[ C676C6?4:?8 E96 @?\42>AFD C6D:56?E:2= 2C62 H96C6 2== 7:CDE\J62C '2?56C3:=E DEF56?ED =:G6] “,%96 A@:?E. H2D 2 4@>>@? C6D:56?E:2= 6IA6C:6?46] }@H J@F’C6 3F:=5:?8 42>AFD6D 6=D6H96C6 E92E H:== E2<6 E92E 2A2CE]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm~E96CD >6?E:@? E96 9:DE@CJ 2?5 AC6DE:86 @7 '2?56C3:=E s:G:?:EJ $49@@= 2?5 :ED :>A@CE2?46 E@ D@4:2= ;FDE:46 2?5 E96 4:G:= C:89ED >@G6>6?E] ~?6 DE2776C A@:?ED @FE E92E E96 F?:G6CD:EJ ;FDE 46=63C2E65 E96 3:CE952J @7 y2>6D {2HD@?[ 2? 2=F>?FD H9@ 96=A65 A=2? E96 5@H?E@H? D:E\:?D :? E96 `he_D[ H9:=6 E96 D49@@= H2D 36:?8 A=2465 :?E@ C646:G6CD9:A]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$6G6C2= '2?56C3:=E 6>A=@J66D H9@ DA@<6 E@ E96 k6>mq2??6Ck^6>m :? C646?E H66<D 2=D@ 766= E92E[ F?56C r92?46==@C s2?:6= s:6C>6:6C’D 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ 4@>>F?:42E:@? 92D 366? =24<:?8 2?5 724F=EJ 8@G6C?2?46 92D 366? :? 564=:?6[ H:E9 =:EE=6 724F=EJ :?AFE :?E@ <6J 564:D:@?D] $@>6 AC@76DD@CD E2<6 :DDF6 H:E9 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G2?56C3:=E]65F^564=2C2E:@?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp s64=2C2E:@? @7 u:CDE !C:?4:A=6Dk^2m[” 2 7@F?52E:@?2= 5@4F>6?E E96 q@2C5 @7 %CFDE AFE :?E@ 24E:@? :? yF?6 a_ae[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G2?56C3:=E]65F^AC:?4:A=6D^DE2E6\@7\D49@=2CD9:A\C6A@CE^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2? pAC:= a_ae C6A@CEk^2m 4@>>:DD:@?65 3J '2?56C3:=E 2?5 (2D9:?8E@? &?:G6CD:EJ :? $E] {@F:D @? D49@=2CD9:A :? E96 9F>2?:E:6D] pD C6A@CE65 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^G2?56C3:=E9FDE=6C]4@>^a_ae^_e^a_^G2?56C3:=E\2?5\H2D9F\4@>>:DD:@?65\C6A@CE\@?\A@=:E:4:K2E:@?\@7\9F>2?:E:6D\7:6=5D\DA2C<D\4@?EC@G6CDJ\2>@?8\724F=EJ\4:E65\AC@76DD@CD^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96 k6>m'2?56C3:=E wFDE=6Ck^6>mk^2m[ E96 C6A@CE[ 4@\2FE9@C65 3J E96 :?4@>:?8 562? @7 '2?56C3:=E’D r@==686 @7 pCED 2?5 $4:6?46D[ H2D 4@>>:DD:@?65 E@ 255C6DD E96 7@==@H:?8 4@>A=2:?Eik^Am
k3=@4<BF@E6mkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“%96 EC25:E:@?2= 8@2= @7 4@>:?8 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 9F>2? H@C=5 E9C@F89 42C67F= D49@=2CD9:A 92D 366? DF3@C5:?2E65 E@[ @C 6G6? 5:DA=2465 3J[ 2 ‘A@=:E:42=’ 8@2=i E96 2:> @7 C62=:K:?8 2 4@?46AE:@? @7 D@4:2= ;FDE:46 ?@H252JD 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 AC@8C6DD:G6 =67E]”k^Amk^3=@4<BF@E6m
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$@>6 AC@76DD@CD E@@< :DDF6 H:E9 E96 C6A@CE’D >6E9@5@=@8J[ 2D @?6 @7 :ED 2FE9@CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]49C@?:4=6]4@>^2CE:4=6^:?D:56\E96\C6A@CE\E92ED\5:G:565\E96\24256>JQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm24<?@H=65865 FD:?8 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46k^2m E@ DFCG6J D@>6 @7 E96 H@C< E96 C6A@CE 4C:E:BF65]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|@C6 C6=6G2?E E@ E96 5:G:?:EJ D49@@=[ 2 D64E:@? E:E=65 “p4256>:4 uC665@>” :? “p s64=2C2E:@? @7 u:CDE !C:?4:A=6D” C625D[ :? A2CE[ 2D 7@==@HDik^Am
k3=@4<BF@E6mkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“u24F=EJ 92G6 2 4@CC6DA@?5:?8 5FEJ E@ 24E :? 244@C52?46 H:E9 2?5 24E:G6=J >2:?E2:? D49@=2C=J DE2?52C5D] u24F=EJ 72:= E@ =:G6 FA E@ E9:D 5FEJ :7 E96J :?5:G:5F2==J @C 4@==64E:G6=J DF3@C5:?2E6 D49@=2C=J DE2?52C5D E@ 2 A@=:E:42= 2?5 D@4:2= 286?52] %96 7C665@> E@ 2D< BF6DE:@?D 2?5 AFCDF6 C6D62C49 :562D D9@F=5 ?@E 36 :?9:3:E65 @C =:>:E65 3642FD6 E96 9JA@E96D:D 2?5 C6D62C49 :562D 2C6 2E @55D H:E9 A@=:E:42= 4@>>:E>6?ED @C D@4:2= 8@2=D]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“(96? 24256>:4 F?:ED 56G:2E6 7C@> E96D6 4@>>:E>6?ED[ 24256>:4 =6256CD ?665 E@ 255C6DD DF49 5JD7F?4E:@?2=:E:6D E9C@F89 DE2?52C5 24256>:4 AC@46DD6D DF49 2D C6A=246>6?E @7 =6256CD9:Aj C6@C82?:K2E:@? @7 F?:ED[ :?4=F5:?8 k6>mC646:G6CD9:A 2?5 4=@DFC6k^6>m]”k^Amk^3=@4<BF@E6m
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmsC] !9:==:D $96AA2C5[ 724F=EJ 492:C 7@C '2?56C3:=E s:G:?:EJ $49@@= 7@C E9:D 24256>:4 J62C[ D2JD D96 925 “?@ C62D@? E@ 5:D>:DD” E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D A@D:E:@? E92E E9:D C646:G6CD9:A :D?’E 4@??64E65 E@ “p s64=2C2E:@? @7 u:CDE !C:?4:A=6D]” w@H6G6C[ D96 255Di “x7 E96J’C6 ?@E 4@??64E65[ E96J’C6 567:?:E6=J @? G6CJ 4=@D6 A2C2==6= EC2:?D] (96E96C E96J’C6 4@??64E65 @C ?@E[ E96 @AE:4D >2<6 :E D66> E92E E96J 2C6]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“}@E DFCAC:D:?8=J[ E96C6’D 2 8C62E 562= @7 2?I:6EJ ,2>@?8 E96 724F=EJ.[” D2JD $96AA2C5[ C676C6?4:?8 E96 C646:G6CD9:A] “xE’D DE:== 6>6C8:?8[ H92E :E >62?D] (6 ;FDE 5@?’E <?@H H92E E96 7FEFC6 =@@<D =:<6[ 2?5 H92E 2 ?6H[ C6DECF4EFC65 5:G:?:EJ D49@@= H:== =@@< =:<6] p?JE:>6 J@F 92G6 D@>6E9:?8 =:<6 E92E[ 2=@?8 H:E9 H92E6G6C’D ?6H[ D@>6E9:?8 :D =@DE]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$96AA2C5 D2JD E96 724F=EJ H@F=5 =:<6 2 4=62C6C A:4EFC6 @7 H92E <:?5D @7 52E2 2?5 4@?46C?D =65 E@ E96 C646:G6CD9:A] “x E9:?< E92E’D 4@>A=6I[” D96 D2JD[ “2?5 H6 H@F=5 D:E 36EE6C H:E9 E96 3:886C A:4EFC6 E92E ,E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?. 42CCJ]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$96AA2C5 24<?@H=6586D E96 FA\2?5\5@H? ?2EFC6 @7 6?C@==>6?E :? E96@=@8:42= 65F42E:@?[ 3FE 255D[ “x 2=D@ 5@?’E E9:?< :E 42? E@E2==J 36 2 ?F>36CD 82>6] xE’D ?@E 4=62C E@ FD 9@H E96 A2CE:4F=2C 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 5:G:?:EJ D49@@= :D 36:?8 96=5 2?5 :?E68C2E65 :?E@ E96D6 564:D:@?D]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm{:<6 @E96C '2?56C3:=E 724F=EJ[ $96AA2C5 DA62<D @7 “AC@46DD” 2?5 “4@>>F?:42E:@?]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“%96 H2J :? H9:49 ?@E @?=J 564:D:@?D 2C6 >256[ 3FE 9@H E96J’C6 4@>>F?:42E65[ ?@E ;FDE E@ DE277 3FE E@ E96 DEF56?E 3@5J[ E@ @FC A2CE?6CD :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ[” D96 D2JD[ “x E9:?< E96 5:G:?:EJ D49@@= E2<6D E9@D6 C6=2E:@?D9:AD BF:E6 D6C:@FD=J] x E9:?< H6[ 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ 92G6 2 D@=:5 9:DE@CJ @7 4@>>F?:42E:?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“p?5 E96D6 2C6 E96 <:?5D @7 4FCC6?4J E92E J@F 92G6 H96? J@F D:E 2E E96 E23=6 E92E 42? 62D:=J 36 =@DE 2?5 42??@E 36 C682:?65]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$96AA2C5 >6?E:@?D E92E D96’D E6249:?8 DA:C:EF2=:EJ 2?5 D@4:2= 24E:G:D>[ 2?5 H@?56CD 2=@F5 H92E E92E 4@F=5 >62? :? E96 4@?E6IE @7 “p s64=2C2E:@? @7 u:CDE !C:?4:A=6D]” k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“(92E 5@6D E92E >62? A6528@8:42==Jn” D96 2D<D] “pC6 H6 ;FDE E6249:?8 DEF56?ED E@ k6>mE9:?<k^6>m 23@FE DA:C:EF2=:EJ 2?5 D@4:2= 24E:G:D>n s@ H6 :?E6?5 E92E DEF56?ED 8C25F2E6 23=6 E@ E9:?< 4C:E:42==J 3FE ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ E96 6E9:42= 56>2?5D E@ 36 6?82865 24E:G6=Jn s@ H6 E9:?< E92E FA@? 8C25F2E:@? E92E H:== DF556?=J 92AA6?n (92E :D E96 C6=2E:@?D9:A @7 E9:D E@ @FC A6528@8:42= 2:>Dnk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“x E9:?< E96D6 2C6 492==6?86D ?@E ;FDE 7@C '2?56C3:=E[ 3FE 7@C 9:896C 65] qFE x’G6 366? 2AAC64:2E:G6 E92E 3@E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G2?56C3:=E]65F^AC:?4:A=6D^DE2E6\@7\D49@=2CD9:A\C6A@CE^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96 '2?56C3:=E C6A@CEk^2m 2?5 E96 q@2C5 @7 %CFDE’D 564=2C2E:@? :D DA2C<:?8 4@?G6CD2E:@? — 46CE2:?=J :?\9@FD6[ 3FE 24C@DD 9:896C 65]”k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?2D9G:==632??6C]4@>^a_ae^_h^ad^G2?56C3:=E\5:G:?:EJ\D49@@=\C646:G6CD9:A\C6@C82?:K2E:@?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2CE:4=6k^2m 7:CDE 2AA62C65 @? k^6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?2D9G:==632??6C]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm}2D9G:==6 q2??6Ck^2m k6>m2?5 :D C6AF3=:D965 96C6 F?56C 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J\?5^c]_^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmrC62E:G6 r@>>@?D pEEC:3FE:@?\}@s6C:G2E:G6D c]_ x?E6C?2E:@?2= {:46?D6k^2m]k^6>mk^Am
