Celebrating the life of Dale P. Andrews
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair and Distinguished Professor of Homiletics, Social Justice, and Practical Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Andrews was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology at BU School of Theology from 2005-2010. As Mary Elizabeth Moore stated, “He was beloved by colleagues and students alike, and he helped to shape the school as it is. He loved his family and students and colleagues far and wide, and he was a model of a teaching scholar-pastor and pastoral scholar-teacher. Words fail in the face of such loss.”
Andrews was the author of Practical Theology for Black Churches: Bridging Black Theology and African American Folk Religion (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002) and Black Practical Theology (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2015) co-edited with Robert London Smith Jr. He was also the author of several other edited volumes, articles, and numerous sermons. He was ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
Andrews’s memorial service will be held at Benton Chapel at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Saturday, August 12 at 2pm. If you would like to share memories, you may do so here: https://www.facebook.com/events/828947380603164. The event will be live-streamed at: http://divinity.vanderbilt.edu/DaleAndrewsMemorial.php. The service will also be available later on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6y9NOGTiKj0.
Below is the message shared by Vanderbilt Divinity School Dean Emilie Townes, which includes an address for sending notes and cards. You can also read a reflection from Association of Practical Theology. Rest in power, Dale P. Andrews. We will miss you so.
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It is with a heavy heart that I write to let you know that Dale P. Andrews, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair and Distinguished Professor of Homiletics, Social Justice, and Practical Theology died last night, surrounded by his family, as was his deep wish.
Service arrangements are yet to be determined, but Barbara will pass along this information to me as soon as it becomes available so that I can let you all know. She writes, “We want to celebrate the life and love of a great man, father, husband, colleague, mentor, and friend.”
As requested before, please send your notes and cards to the Dean’s Office addressed to
Professor Dale P. Andrews
Vanderbilt Divinity School
411 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37240
We will be sure that Barbara and the kids receive your them as soon as possible once we receive them. Please give Barbara some time before trying to call, email, or text as she has time to mourn and celebrate Dale’s life and also prepare for the future.
A great light has dimmed,
emilie/DeanT