Theologians from various traditions and from around the world have joined together in an effort to gain clemency for death row inmate—and fellow theologian—Kelly Gissendaner, who is scheduled to be executed by the State of George on Monday, March 2, 2015. They are pointing to Gissendaner’s remarkable story of redemption, hope, and transformation, and calling for the state to extend mercy.
About 100 theologians have written letters, joining another 500 clergy and religious leaders who have signed a petition, calling for Gissendaner’s life to be spared. Spearheaded by Dr. Jennifer McBride, Regents Chair of Ethics at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, who was Gissendaner’s theology professor, the clemency effort is supported by influential figures such as Desmond Tutu, Barbara Brown Taylor, Jim Wallis, Shane Claiborne, and heads of seminaries and leading theologians at colleges and universities in the U.S. and Europe, including Harvard University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Emory University, Regis College, Mercer University, University of Cambridge, England, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, University of Zurich, and many more.