state killing

Our judicial and prison system, including the death penalty has come to the forefront of my life in recent days.

Early yesterday morning, Steve Henley was killed by the state. You can read his case at the website for the Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing, http://www.tcask.org/cases/henley/henley.html. A drug addict acquaintance Flatt implicated himself and Henley in the murder of a couple. Henley received grossly inadequate representation and a much heavier sentence than Flatt (25 years, but was released on parole after 5 years), who was also sentenced with the murder.

I have not been directly very involved with TCASK. Soon after I moved to Nashville, on 9/11, I attended a prayer service for a death row inmate being executed that night. A friend interned there for field ed last year, and I volunteered to be a guinea pig for lobby training her co-worker would be doing for a larger group. Stacy Rector, the executive director of TCASK, has been reflecting with our field ed class on prophetic ministry. In the fall, a TCASK employee came by the church with cards to send to Gov. Bredesen requesting clemency for Henley, which we at least attempted to distribute, and I sent mine in. The Saturday before the execution, I made phone calls to TCASK constituents asking them to call Gov. Bredesen to grant clemency to Henley. While I was phone banking, I asked an employee Isaac how likely clemency would be granted - he said highly unlikely. So I was not surprised when I received an invitation to attend the prayer vigil for Henley's execution.

Because of this case, I've spoken with others about Henley's case, the death penalty in TN, the death penalty in general, our judicial and prison systems, their involvement with the classes offered at Riverbend, etc. They've been some angering and sad conversations. It's been alleviated somewhat by the opportunity to phone bank and to spread the word about the case and the opportunities to be involved. I've also been heartened by my pastor's keeping the execution before us in worship as it was approaching. But it's still very sad.

Amid my conversations with folks around all of these inter-related topics, we've also been talking about the nature of sin, original sin, atonement theories, redemption, reconciliation, etc. in my 2 theology courses (more in UM theology than in constructive). What a coincidence.

I also had a conversation with my boyfriend about the death penalty, upon his prompting, as we are attempting to discuss some of our theological and political differences. We have very different points of view on this issue, which is difficult. Not as painful and tear-ful as our conversation about gender-inclusive language was this past fall, oddly enough - but frustrating still (for the record, we're on a closer page with that issue than this one). I recall being fairly apathetic on this and other issues growing up through high school - things are the way they are, because someone knew what they were doing when they set the rules. It's amazing to see how much the past 6 years have shaped me - at Hendrix, Sojourners, and now at Vanderbilt. I have developed deep theological and political commitments over these years - and it's hard to understand how someone could be so far outside of that box - especially someone who I love and cherish dearly, and whose intellectual and gut opinions I honor on many issues and at many levels - and who has been formed by some of the same institutions as me. What further turns my world on end is his experience with restorative justice in communities in post-genocide Rwanda - a ministry which seems amazing and powerful, but which he saw as forced and un-helpful - those who kill must pay for what they've done, period - trying to get around that is not worth it. Whoo! Does that ever blow my ideas of prevenient grace, imago dei, restorative justice, reconciliation, God's infinite love, God's wish for the kingdom to be brought on earth,... - all out of the water.

Tonight, Bishop Ken Carder shared (at length) about how the Wesleys visited the prisons before they started visiting hospitals, the poor, the marginalized - and how we must be called to being transformed by and transforming the people who we have placed in our prisons and jails.

I can not help but think that all of these things came together at the right time, in this my particular place. I have been wishing to take a course at Riverbend - I intend to do so next academic year (hopefully it will count as a core elective requirement). I also hope that prison visits will become a regular part of my life in ministry after taking a course there.

I will also continue to advocate against the death penalty and for just representation, sentencing, treatment, and rehabilitation, where possible.