Stations of the Cross at Vanderbilt Divinity School
On Friday, April 18th, the Society of St. Cornelius and the Worship Team at Vanderbilt Divinity School came together to offer a Stations of the Cross service on Good Friday that focused on the execution of Jesus and bring to light the planned executions of Tennessee inmates currently on death row. From the program:
The State of Tennessee has scheduled the executions of at least ten men on death row between now and November, 2015. This is an unprecedented push for a state that has only executed six people since 1960. We’ve decided to push back. The Society of St. Cornelius has teamed up with some of the men on death row at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison to bring you this collaborative Stations of the Cross service. These reflections on the execution of Jesus are gifts from men facing their own execution. In return, a small group from Vanderbilt Divinity School will visit death row on Good Friday to participate in the Stations of the Cross service being held there. This Holy Week, let us remember all of those who are victims of violence, and place our hope in the executed and resurrected Christ, who promises an end to the spiral of violence.
This event brought students of not only the Divinity School, but from around campus, staff, faculty and administrators to participate in Benton Chapel as the service shared stories from Riverbend Maximum Security inmates about their reflections on the Passion of Christ. With the inmates photos, drawings and poetry shared, the assembled joined in prayer to lift their hearts. See photos of the service here.
