Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt

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Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt

We are a partner of Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). But it is more than a building.

We serve as both a scholarship foundation and a learning hub, supporting faith leaders who are committed to making a meaningful impact in the world. The Disciples Divinity House is a scholarship foundation and a home for Disciples at the Divinity School at Vanderbilt. It is a place where Disciple students live and gather for worship and meals, for social events and programming, for study groups an

d support. It is a community in which lifelong connections are made, gifts blossom, friendships grow, vocations are shaped, and faithful ministry is grounded.

04/06/2026

We are excited to invite you to our very first Learning Lab with the Institute, a dynamic two-day gathering focused on one of the most pressing and transformative conversations of our time: the Church and Artificial Intelligence.

This learning lab is designed for leaders, thinkers, and practitioners who are ready to engage faithfully and thoughtfully with the evolving role of AI in ministry, theology, and community life. It will be both practical and engaging, offering space for reflection, dialogue, and forward-thinking leadership.

We are especially honored to welcome Rev. Dr. Irie Session as our facilitator. A certified AI trainer and advocate, Rev. Dr. Session is also a Disciples pastor and an exceptional womanist scholar and leader. Her guidance will help us explore this topic with depth, clarity, and theological grounding.

Registration is now open, and we encourage you not to wait. Join us for this important two-day experience as we engage one of the leading topics of our century and discern together how the Church can respond with wisdom and courage.

We look forward to learning and growing with you.

🔗 Register at tinyurl.com/Church-and-AI

04/04/2026

On this Good Friday, we remember the Seven Last Words—the final sayings of Jesus from the cross.

Earlier this week, the Vanderbilt Divinity community gathered in worship as students and staff reflected on each word, offering insight, honesty, and hope in the midst of a sacred story of suffering and love. Three DDHI House Scholars and DDHI Dean Cherisna Jean-Marie were a part of the worship service.

May we pause today to reflect and listen again, holding space before Sunday arrives.

03/27/2026

Join us for a special Wednesday worship at Vanderbilt Divinity School as we reflect on the Seven Last Words of Jesus.

Through word and art, seven students will offer unique reflections during this gathering.

🗓 Wednesday, April 1
⏰ 11:30 AM
📍 The Space (G-29)

All are welcome to come, reflect, and be present.

03/26/2026

You are invited to a Dialogue with Dr. James Byrd and Dr. Juan Floyd-Thomas entitled “The History of the Segregated Church,” moderated by Rev. Kelli X (VDS alumnus and pastor of The Village Church Nashville).
The dialogue will take place on Monday, March 30th, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in The Space (G-29).

03/12/2026

The year 2027 marks a historic milestone for DDHI as we celebrate 100 years of transformative ministry. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming celebrations and gatherings as we honor this remarkable moment in the life and legacy of Disciples Divinity House and Institute.

03/10/2026

Applications for 2026–2027 housing at Disciples Divinity House and Institute are now open! Join a community of students committed to living, learning, and growing together in intentional community. Applications are currently open for Disciples of Christ students, with priority access through May 15. After May 15, applications will open to all students.

🔗 Application link: https://tinyurl.com/DDHI-Housing

03/05/2026

On Monday night our DDHI House Scholars gathered for our monthly community dinner! We enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by some of our students.

03/03/2026

We’re grateful to share that one of our House Scholars will be preaching at Vanderbilt Divinity School’s weekly Wednesday worship tomorrow.

Join us on March 4th at 11:30am in The Space (G-29) as Seulbin Lee (PhD candidate) offers the message, “Communicate to Commune.”

Come out to support Seulbin and gather with the community for worship!

02/27/2026

Rev. Dr. González-Justiniano is an Assistant Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture with an emphasis on Latinx Studies at Vanderbilt University. She is also an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Her scholarly work focuses on practical theology, with a particular interest in the intersections of land, ecology, and social justice. In her book Centering Hope as a Sustainable Decolonial Practice, Dr. González-Justiniano explores how hope can serve as a transformative force within decolonial and theological frameworks.

Her current research challenges readers to reflect on the relationship between people and place, especially through the theological questions posed by Marlene Ferreras and Randy Woodley: “What grows in your land?” and “How do you take care of the land?” These inquiries invite a deeper engagement with ecological justice and our role in sustaining the earth.

Dr. González-Justiniano is also working on her second monograph, Exhausting All Possibilities: Healing in Place, which addresses the trauma of displacement caused by environmental, socioeconomic, and military forces. Drawing from trauma studies and ritual theory, she explores how healing can emerge from the fractured relationships created by forced migration, offering a vision for integrative healing that touches on the personal, communal, and ecological aspects of human experience.

02/23/2026

A glimpse into what some of our first year M.Div. students are learning this semester!

Thanks to Dominic for being the first student to participate in a reflection video.

02/20/2026

My name is Noah Tennant. I am from Rockwall, Texas and now live in Nashville, Tennessee, where I am a first-year Master of Divinity student in my second semester at Vanderbilt Divinity School. My first year at VDS has been quite the transition. I do not come with a background in religious/theological studies, so the shift to this learning style has been both dramatic and beautiful. It has been a gift to explore the world’s deepest theological questions while surrounded by people who wrestle with these same thoughts everyday.

A class that especially stood out to me in my first semester was Evangelicalism and Politics, which offered a rich blend of history, current events, and theology. Through this course, we examined how the history of evangelicalism in the United States continues to shape our present moment. Every conversation pushed me to think more deeply, ask better questions, and engage resources that helped me continue that exploration beyond the classroom.

Outside the classroom, I am seeking ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination out of the Southwest Region. I am still, like many students in Divinity School, discerning what vocational path lies ahead. I am deeply passionate about pastoral care and social justice/advocacy, and I am excited to see where those commitments lead, whether in chaplaincy, congregational ministry, or something else entirely.

I currently serve as the Head Resident at the Disciples Divinity House and Institute, a role that holds many dimensions. I represent the house as a student, help plan our programming, assist with the social media management, and help the Dean with larger projects like our upcoming Discernment Retreat in March. But above all of that, the role of Head Resident is to take care of the people at the DDH, and that is the most valuable piece to me. I get the honor of being the person residents call when they forget their key and can’t get into their room and I get to be the one to help fix their sink at midnight. I get to take care of the future caretakers, spiritual leaders, and activists of the world, which is a distinct privilege that I do not take for granted.

04/10/2023

The Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt announces that Rev. Beth Pattillo, Acting Dean, and Rev. Randy Smith, Associate Dean, will step down from their interim roles on May 15. Beth (MDiv90) and Randy (MDiv88) began their current tenure in November 2021 and have helped DDH to bring its visioning process to fruition while maintaining engagement with students, alumni, supporters, and ministry partners.

“Beth and Randy stepped in at a critical time as DDH was emerging from the pandemic,” according to Marcus Rafiee, chair of the Board of Trustees. “They helped us pursue our new visioning plan. We are grateful for their willingness to serve beyond their initial call and for their great love of the Disciples House.”

Beth, who previously served as the interim dean from July 2018 to November 2021, has enjoyed her second stint at DDH. “Students continue to be the heart of our mission,” she says. “We provide scholarships, low-cost housing, and practice of ministry programming, but the students bring the curiosity, the passion, and the faith that makes the House a transformational experience.”

Beth and Randy first met at DDH in 1986 and have been married for over 30 years. Randy brought 25 years of fundraising experience at Vanderbilt University to bear at the House during a difficult financial period due to Covid-19. Randy says, “Like many other institutions, DDH saw a decline in giving during the early days of the pandemic. But our community of support is strong, and alumni and friends of DDH quickly resumed their generous giving, inspired as always by such an impressive group of students.”

Beth and Randy plan to support the next era of DDH leadership. “DDH reached the goal of getting our students to 100% tuition awards this spring,” Beth says. “We’re excited to have grown in our ability to support students, but we haven’t reached our highest goals yet.”

“It has been an honor and a joy to work on the philanthropic program of an institution that has been important to us for more than three decades. I am excited to see where and how DDH moves forward from here,” Randy says.

The pair will depart their roles following graduation in mid-May. The Board of Trustees is currently establishing a plan for selecting their successors. Position descriptions and search timelines will be forthcoming.

Address

1917 Adelicia Street
Nashville, TN
37212

Telephone

+16153210380

Website

http://www.discipleshousevandy.org/

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