Strangely a sign of institutional health is the annual report on giving. The 2020-2021 (an entire COVID year) annual report is called “Impact.” It runs to forty pages. It documents both annual fund giving and capital campaign gifts. The result is a report that really captures the deep affection in which the Seminary is held. […]
If you make your way to Bicentennial Hall, then you will find, nestled around the Assyrian Reliefs, a delightful exhibit honoring the life, witness, and impact of the world’s most famous saint – St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas is the saint from Patara (now southern Turkey) from the third century. He took everything he had and […]
Last Monday, the faculty had a day-long faculty meeting. It was rich in conversation and deliberation. Topics as far-ranging as the ATS accreditation visit, to requests for students to transfer from the M.A. to the M.Div. program, were considered. The day culminated in singing Christmas carols (and yes, Dr. Farwell and Dr. Strout did agree, […]
One of the biggest impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been financial: many families have lost their income, jobs, and homes. Millions of Americans have fallen on hard times. Some who had little to begin with now have even less, and are struggling every day just to make it through until tomorrow. They wonder how […]
Last night, Immanuel Chapel was a space of sublime Anglican liturgy and a moving celebration of ministry. We gathered for the Dean’s Cross service. It was exceptional. The music was glorious; the readings were read well; and the awards were a recognition of human lives lived fully. Advent Lessons and Carols are a distinctly Anglican […]
This is the final trip on behalf of the Seminary for 2021. Last night, there was a lovely gathering of alums and friends of the Seminary. Earlier in the day, there were meetings with the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright ’98, bishop of Atlanta, and with Mr. Russ Hardin of the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation. Much […]
Hopefully, Dr. Kimball will not read this Commentary. After all, she is on sabbatical. But I do just want to pause and celebrate her presence among us. On December 3, 2021, we announced the exciting news that the Lilly Endowment Inc. had awarded a $1M grant to the Seminary for the Mutual Ministry Initiative in […]
We have had two lovely occasions this week. On Monday night we celebrated the launch of a new book from VTS Press, entitled Home. When Helen Reid, the wife of Richard Reid (VTS dean and president in the 1980s), wrote Search for the Invisible – the theme was “the invisible families of the Faculty on […]
There is a small possibility that we might get some snow tomorrow morning. So, as we approach winter, it is worth reminding everyone of the Seminary’s process and policies. By 6:00 a.m., the Seminary will have made a decision which will be advertised on our website, our social media accounts, and will be shared in […]
As we continue to live with Covid, it is worth remembering that there are other dangers in life. As close readers of the Commentary know, last week, Dr. Barney Hawkins and I made a journey to Durham, NC (which, I am pleased to report, went very well). We traveled separately. I was coming from Alexandria, […]