The Anglican Communion Prize
Given to recognize a graduating student who has shown an outstanding commitment to discerning the mission of God through World Anglicanism.
The W. Cosby Bell Fellowship Fund & Hulbert A. Woolfall Memorial Fund
Given as a gift of the Hulbert A. Woolfall Memorial Corporation and merged with the Bell Fellowship Fund established in memory of The Rev. Wilbur Cosby Bell to support “highly competent students who are pursuing a post-seminary academic degree, normally a Ph.D. degree, with the intention of teaching one of the theological disciplines in a seminary or other center of higher education.”
The Armistead Boothe Memorial Biblical Languages Prize
Established by the estate and in memory of Armistead Lloyd Boothe, and given to the middler student who has “shown the most progress or proficiency in the study of the Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek.” The award is to be used for travel and study in Israel/Palestine.
The Doctoral Thesis Award
Given to a graduating doctoral student who has written an exceptional thesis with clarity, depth, and boundedness that addresses a higher aim of Christian life, service, and leadership.
The Woodward Award for Reading of Scripture and Liturgy
Given in memory of the Rt. Rev. Thomas Underwood Dudley (VTS 1867), by his granddaughter Katherine Woodward to a graduating student who “has demonstrated excellence in the public reading and interpretation of the Scriptures and the Liturgy.”
The Bishop Mark Dyer Prize for Theological Reflection
Established in 2018 by Dr. Amy Dyer in honor of her husband, the Rt. Rev. Mark Dyer, this prize recognizes a graduating senior who has developed theological skills and insights to support preaching and service.
The Episcopal Preaching Foundation Award
The Episcopal Preaching Foundation (EPF) Annual Preaching Award is bestowed on a graduating Master’s-level student, who, in the judgment of the Dean and Faculty, has demonstrated improvement and excellence in preaching.
The Greene Chair
Established in 2024 by the Rev. Janettarose Greene (VTS 2023), a gift of a Seminary chair recognizes a member of the graduating class who has exhibited a strong commitment to the community life and mission of the Seminary.
The Charles and Janet Harris Award
Given as a bequest of Charles and Janet Harris to a graduating candidate for holy orders “who has best demonstrated academic excellence and leadership ability as well as other qualities that evidence fitness for ordained ministry.”
John Hines Preaching Award
Given in honor of the Rt. Rev. John E. Hines (VTS 1933) to a person who preached “an outstanding prophetic proclamation of the Gospel” in the preceding year.
Master of Arts Award
Given to a graduating Master of Arts student who has researched and written an exceptional and original thesis or capstone project with clarity, depth, and integrity.
The Jane A. Morse Award for Old Testament Languages
Given as a bequest of the Class of 1986 and the family of the Rev. Jane A. Morse to a student who has excelled in the Hebrew Language courses. The award is to be used for travel and study in Israel/Palestine.
The Jean B. Tachau Memorial Biblical Languages Prize
Given by the Venerable Archdeacon Charles B. Tachau (VTS 1963) to the middler student who has “shown the most progress or proficiency in the study of the Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek.” The award is to be used for travel and study in Israel/Palestine or additional graduate study of biblical languages.
The Ronnie A. Yoder Scholarship
Established by the Honorable Judge Ronnie A. Yoder “to advance the study of love as an appropriate center of Christian theology, life, preaching, and practice, and to explore love as an ecumenical theme unifying all of humankind’s religions.”
‘Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.’ (I John 4.8) This verse from the Johannine epistles is one of the best known and loved in the New Testament. Christians readily identify God’s nature as love, and link the knowledge of God to love of God and neighbor. Yet Christianity has not always placed love in the center of its theology, nor acted like a community of love. Like other religions in the world, Christianity has been the source of conflict and rancor, as well as peace and sacrificial love. Vital to our faith and to our world is the recovery of love as the centerpiece of Christianity and the mainspring of the world’s religions. The Yoder Scholarship seeks to explore the recognition of a God of Love in Christianity and all religions, as an appropriate philosophical center for all the world’s religions and peoples.
Scholars enrolled in Anglican and Episcopal seminaries or universities, engaged in Anglican studies, or graduate practitioners in an Anglican/Episcopal context are eligible to apply by submitting an essay, poem and/or musical piece that explores the centrality of love in Christian doctrine, scripture, creeds, liturgy, worship, music and practice, as well as exploring these questions with respect to other world religions. An announcement is made each Fall inviting submissions. Deadline for submission is early in the Spring Semester for funding awarded in the Spring.
Click here to see a video of Judge Yoder describing the scholarship.
Please email submissions to admissions@vts.edu with the subject line: The Ronnie A. Yoder Scholarship.