Cook: The life, death and resurrection of Kelly Gissendaner | Times Free Press: In 1998, Kelly Gissendaner was convicted of plotting the murder of her husband. The state of Georgia sentenced her to death.
Monday evening, as the sun sets over Georgia, the state plans to execute Gissendaner.
When the state kills her, it will be executing a redeemed and beloved daughter of God.
"She is a totally transformed person," said Dr. Jenny McBride.
McBride, who graduated from Baylor School in 1995, is a leading theologian, activist and author and the current Regents Chair of Ethics at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. In 2010, as part of a program created by seminaries and universities near Atlanta, she also taught theology courses to female inmates in Georgia.
"I was teaching her through the bars," McBride said.
There, Gissendaner fell in love with God. She signed up for 13 different courses. She became pen-pal friends with German theologian Jurgen Moltmann. She was a shipwrecked woman finally finding land.
"I have learned to place my hope in the God I now know, the God whose plans and promises are made known to me in the whole story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus," she said during her graduation speech.
As part of her death row ministry, McBride wanted to celebrate the eucharist with Gissendaner. The prison forbade outside bread, juice or wine.
So McBride brought quarters for the vending machine. Death row then became a holy space, as prisoner and theologian celebrated a eucharist of Cheetos, diet Coke and cheeseburgers.
"There in that burger and Coke, Jesus made himself immediate to us," McBride writes in her forthcoming book.
That is the Gospel message: Christ found in the dirtiest and dimmest of places, as the least of these encounter a God whose love falls on the just and unjust, on the Saul who once killed Christians, and the Gissendaner who once helped kill her husband.
Both become putty in the arms of God.Both become the message of God to the world.
"We can see in Kelly Gissendaner a truly redeemed person," one minister told Gissendaner's attorneys.
Days ago, Gissendaner's attorneys presented her plea for mercy to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. It is 54 pages of praise from dozens of guards, wardens, inmates, educators and ministers.
Gissendaner listens, whispers, prays, heals, cries, counsels, teaches and ministers to other inmates. She shares food with inmates who have none. She talks to troubled youth.
By refusing to grant clemency and mercy to Gissendaner, the state of Georgia has revealed its death penalty system for what it is -- a machine of bloodlust, so blind it cannot recognize the transformation before it. Killing Gissendaner is exactly what the Roman Empire would have done.
"Jesus quite literally was a convicted criminal and a victim of the death penalty," McBride said. "And he remains in solidarity with all other victims of state violence."
Gissendaner's execution was originally scheduled for last week. Georgia postponed it because of snowstorms, the way you would a birthday party or a Braves game.
Yet Georgia refuses to postpone her execution because of mercy.
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Theologian
Jurgen Moltmann, Kelly Gissendaner and Dr. Jenny McBride
during
Gissendaner's graduation
from the
Candler School of Theology's Certificate of Theological Studies
in
2011.
***
A rainbow outside the prison
as Kelly Gissendaner is set to be executed the night
of
September 29, 2015.
I swear! This woman looks an awful lot like Jennifer; the homeless woman
who participates with downtown Atlanta's St. Mark UMC "Faith Seekers" Sunday Bible Study Class? I was seriously considering, and haven't completely ruled this thought out, asking her to marry me just to keep my home (which I own 100% equity) out of the hands of my Arkansan family. I absolutely do not want them getting anything from me.
But the sign Jennifer is holding,
"WE ARE PRAYING FOR JAMES MILLS,"
had me curious as to who was this...
JAMES MILL?
Board Member James W. Mills, of Hall County, was appointed to the Board by Governor Nathan Deal. He was sworn in November 14, 2011. Mr. Mills is the Vice Chairman of the Board and will serve in this position through June 30, 2016.
The former State Representative served nineteen years in the legislature representing the 25th district. Mr. Mills served as Secretary of the Rules Committee and was a member of the Appropriations, Banks and Banking, and the Ways and Means committees. He also served previously as Chairman of the Banks and Banking Committee.
Mr. Mills currently serves on the Board of Community Supervision. The board has regulatory oversight of the Department of Community Supervision which is responsible for the supervision of felony offenders on probation and parole.
During his legislative service, Mr. Mills has sponsored or helped pass notable and important legislation. His amendment placed “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the Georgia state flag. Mr. Mills passed “proof of citizenship when registering to vote” legislation and he shepherded through the House the bill calling for driver’s license tests to be given in English. He also helped pass the Georgia Mortgage Fraud law allowing district attorneys to prosecute mortgage fraud. Mr. Mills also passed the “Option of Adoption” legislation, the first-of-its-kind in the nation.
Mr. Mills was named Christian Coalition Legislator of the Year in 2001. In 2007, he was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Georgia Retail Association and he received the “Outstanding American Award.” The same year he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of the “Pro-Life Hero” award from the Georgia Right to Life organization and in 2007 was named the Pro-Life Hero Legislator by the Justice Foundation.
Mr. Mills is a successful businessman, who owns and operates mini storage warehouse businesses and was invited to the White House on two occasions as recognition for his tax cutting efforts as a state legislator. Three times he has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Who’s Who in Finance.
Mr. Mills graduated from Mercer University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree. In 1990, he received a master’s from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (N.O.B.T.S).
Mr. Mills is involved in many youth community activities and he’s led numerous overseas mission trips through his local church.
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