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, […]
When my wife worked for the North American Committee for St. George’s College in Jerusalem, the end of the year was an important time. The mail would arrive: countless $10, $50, $100 gifts would pour in. For many friends of St. George’s, these modest amounts were all they could afford. But as each gift arrived, […]
Yesterday morning, it was impossible for me to be at Chapel. Given the schedule for my upcoming donor cultivation trip to Durham, NC, I knew that I would have to hold a Deanery construction meeting at 8 a.m. Feeling both guilty and sad, I headed to the Deanery first thing, where many important decisions were […]
With Thanksgiving now over, we have the journey to the end of the semester. This can be a busy time for many of us. The Annual Fund always anticipates an increase number of gifts towards the end of the calendar year; students are writing final papers; professors are bracing themselves for grading all those papers; […]
Today VTS joins the worldwide celebration of generosity that is Giving Tuesday by lifting our voices in support of the African American Episcopal Historical Collection (AAEHC), a joint project of VTS and the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church. Giving Tuesday aims to bring people around the world together through generosity in all its forms […]
Since 1862, the Episcopal Evangelism Society (EES) has financially supported Episcopal seminarians in their formation to serve Christ’s church. Like most Episcopal institutions, the EES mission has evolved, even pivoted, over the years. Today they award grants to seminarians, faculty, staff and their spouses and partners to implement ministry projects that will help develop the […]
This is the last commentary until after Thanksgiving. This is a lovely holiday. There is a simplicity in the occasion. We remember with gratitude the gift of living and life. Families and friends gather. Good food and fellowship are enjoyed. It is uncomplicated and precious. Everyone uses the occasion to list their blessings. So please […]