The gift of an autobiography is that it is an invitation into a life. It is holy ground, for a good biography really lets you in. One encounters the fears, hopes, aspirations of another person. It is an honor to be present. Our alumnus Kathleen Weaver Kurtz has written a holy biography. And as we […]
The trip to Memphis over the weekend was important. It was an opportunity to meet with various alums in an informal setting; we also had a visit with Bishop Phoebe Roaf – the vice-chair of the Board; and most importantly we connected with the artist of the extraordinary baptismal painting in Scott Lounge. The Rev. […]
The “all you can eat” buffet was good. But it is lovely having the full “order off the menu” back at 1823. Last night, my son Luke and I had dinner there. It was fun connecting with students, alums, and friends over the course of two hours or so. During the summer and at the […]
Last night, for the first time in two hundred years, the Seminary honored two students who had published four books together. Never before had there been a book launch for books written by seminarians. Molly Jane Layton and Garrett Ayers worked together on the four-volume A Student’s Companion to the Daily Office in Greek and […]
Normally when the Board votes to approve a construction design, the next step is to implement that design. Back in 2020, the Board voted on both the design and the funding for the renovation of the Welcome Center. The plan was that the moment that the Library moved out, the work on the Welcome Center […]
Strategic plans matter. Every institution and every organization needs to know where they are headed. The Strategic Plan ensures that our movement is deliberate, well thought out, clear, defined, and intentional. We are not simply living from day to day, but we have an intentional direction. This Strategic Plan which was passed last Wednesday was […]
The director of The Butterfly House, Ms. Juanita Sanchez, sent Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams (who is currently overseeing The Butterfly House while Vice President Ballou is on sabbatical) and me the good news: “The Butterfly House is now the only center in the Northern VA area with a certified Nature Outdoor Classroom!” The award comes from […]
In the next few commentaries, I shall share some of the major decisions of the Board of Trustees. However, today, let me give you an overview. This was the first Board meeting held on the campus since the pandemic closed everything down. As a result, it was their first opportunity to see the impact of […]
I am not entirely sure how many veterans we have at the Seminary. I think among current students, there are six or so. I know among our alums there are many veterans who came and studied at the Seminary and are now in ministry. On this important day, November 11, we do pause and remember […]
Today we have the Business Meeting of the Board. It is the culmination of the visit of the Board to the campus; and it has been a rich and important time together. The highlight was the formal opening of the library, which took place yesterday. Discussions around the nature and needs of our library have […]