Submitted by Church & Society —-

NASHVILLE, TN — On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, United Methodists and allies across Tennessee will gather in solemn vigil to oppose the execution of Byron Lewis Black, a 69-year-old man with intellectual disabilities who is scheduled to be executed by the state for the 1988 murders of Angela Clay and her daughters, Latoya and Lakeisha. Two simultaneous vigils will be held: one on the grounds of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville where death row is housed, and one hosted virtually by Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (TADP).

The in-person vigil at Riverbend is being coordinated by the Rev. Timothy Holton, a Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference pastor. Rev. Holton serves a chaplain to death row and has ministered to Byron and many of Tennessee’s condemned in his role. Rooted in the Methodist tradition of grace and justice, Rev. Holton brings a prophetic witness to a space too often shaped by silence and stigma, to those deemed the “worst of the worst” by our society.

“Byron is a beloved child of God, intellectually disabled, and aging, who is known for his sweet and kind spirit” Rev. Holton said. “His life is sacred, no less than yours or mine. We gather in community not only to lament what the state intends to do but to proclaim that love is stronger than death, and justice must be tempered by mercy.”

Participants are asked to arrive for the in-person vigil at 9:00 a.m. at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, 7475 Cockrill Bend Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209. Due to security protocols, attendees and their vehicles will undergo search and screening by law enforcement, and photo ID is required. No cell phones are permitted beyond the parking area. Anyone not through security by 9:30 a.m. will not be admitted. The vigil will begin at 10:00 a.m. and is expected to last approximately 40 minutes.

Simultaneously, Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will host a virtual vigil via Zoom for those unable to attend in person. This online gathering offers an accessible way for communities across the state and nation to join in prayer, lament, and hope for a future without executions. Rev. Holton, along with Davis Turner, member of West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN, currently serve as board members of TADP.

The United Methodist Church, through its Social Principles and Book of Resolutions, opposes the death penalty and calls for its abolition (2020/2024 Book of Discipline ¶164.G; Book of Resolutions #5031). Rev. Holton’s work as a death row chaplain is an embodiment of this witness, offering presence and pastoral care in the shadow of the state’s ultimate punishment.

In the words of the Rev. Holton, “This vigil is not about erasing harm or ignoring pain. It is about honoring the image of God in Byron and believing that no one is beyond the reach of redemption.” For more information, please contact Rev. Holton at timothy.holton@twkumc.org, or (931) 581-7548.