The (still) new VTS website continues to grow and to impress. This week, a new timeline element went live, with information going back to the time before Virginia Theological Seminary was Virginia Theological Seminary. Curated in a beautiful and innovative way by the Seminary Archives and the Communications Office, this exciting section of the site […]
The Sprigg Lecture yesterday was extraordinary. Dr. Donyelle McCray provided insight into her exciting new project. Using the form of a letter, she explored the ways in which Pauli Murray combined her activism with her contemplation. It was powerful, moving, and beautiful. Today we have the AAEC (Alumni Alumnae Executive Council) meeting. It is the […]
I found yesterday so moving. It was lovely to talk to alums; the reunion dinner was moving; and the buzz at 1823 after that dinner was energetic and beautiful. The most moving moment, however, was the dedication of a tree in honor of the Rev. Jennifer R. Durant (class of 2011). She died of ALS […]
This week we celebrate our wonderful alumni as we prepare to welcome them “home” for Class Reunions and Alumni Convocation. The Class Stewards and the Alumni Association Executive Committee (AAEC) also hold their fall meetings on campus this week. After the 2019 year of campus construction and the 2020 year of COVID, it is a […]
Several African proverbs are loosely translated, “It takes a village to raise a child.” This undeniable fact is true for us in the church. The formation of children is not to be relegated to staff professionals or expected of parents alone. Laity, priests, and even scholars are entrusted with the formation of children in all […]
It was Dr. Mitzi Budde who shared at the Policy Administrative Meeting (PAM) how precious her Formation Group — meeting face to face — has become to her. It is true that the gift of proximity and presence is especially felt when we gather in a faculty home to share. One gift of this year […]
Yesterday, I spoke to Chris Pote, our Archivist. Given the desire of the Board to be more involved in the oversight of the Bicentennial Celebration, I had let the existing committee know that an ad hoc committee of the Board will oversee celebration plans going on. Chris had served as Chair; he reassured me that […]
Yesterday, I had the first meeting with our AAAS science advisors. AAAS is the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the program was the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion. Thanks to an imaginative grant application to the “Science for Seminaries Seed Grant” initiative, written by Dr. John Allan Knight, the Seminary had been […]
On Friday, I had my IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory) debrief. In this year’s Intercultural Competency training course (where I joined all the juniors, many new employees — and some old ones), we took the IDI before the course and then had the opportunity of a debrief with a specialist in interpreting the data anytime after […]
At the lynchpin of all educational institutions is the Registrar. The work and talents of the most brilliant instructors and gifted students all fall down when the degree programs aren’t thought through, the classes aren’t scheduled coherently, and the classrooms are overbooked. And the various offices of student services are also key to ensuring that […]