Almost all of us live life surrounded by noise. The radio goes on in the car; the walk is surrounded by music from our iPhone to our earbuds; the TV keeps us company when we are in our room or in the apartment. Noise is our constant companion. Twice a year, we invite our seminarians […]
Winter is going to make our life complicated. COVID continues to be present, and winter brings a whole host of coughs, sore throats, and even temperatures. So yesterday I issued new guidance. The email triggered some good questions. What if I am a sufferer from seasonal allergies which might provoke COVID-type symptoms? So let me […]
The department of Lifelong Learning offers a plethora of online programming, ranging from webinars to courses, and even retreats. Conversations on Race and Faith: The Sacred Ground Curriculum has been a transformative experience for many and there are two groups starting tomorrow, September 21. Whether your aim is to lead Sacred Ground in your own context down the […]
It has been a solid 18 months since Lifelong Learning has offered in-person events on the VTS campus, as all programming shifted online. Now that the Seminary is welcoming guests in small numbers (with masks required indoors and the expectation that guests have been vaccinated), Lifelong Learning is excited to extend VTS hospitality once again. […]
It is important that there is in any organization a sense of the leadership structure. When the Dean and President is away, then who is in charge? From time to time, I do remind the community of who is responsible for any key decisions when others are absent. So, just for the record, while I […]
From time to time, it is necessary for us to remind ourselves that the work of formation is a holistic work. It is a work that impacts all our lives. Along with class (academics), chapel (worship), and lunch (table fellowship), the work of formation includes “how much we drink,” “how much we eat,” and “how […]
The Rev. Barney Hawkins and I had originally agreed to be the speakers at the Convocation of Europe Clergy Gathering back in 2020, but along with everything else, it was postponed. Instead, the gathering is taking place today. So I find myself in the Austrian town of Salzburg. The Convocation of Europe is an extraordinary […]
The Christian Century magazine is the magazine of the American mainline. It is a significant achievement to get attention in this magazine. We rightly celebrated the appropriate recognition of the Rev. Kate Sonderegger, Ph.D.‘s interview in the magazine. So it is extraordinary to find ourselves lifting up another colleague who is honored by both an article and by […]
It was the Board of Trustees in 2016 that mandated the Intercultural Competency Course for every employee and every student. Last week, I cleared my Wednesday to be fully present. I had not done the program for four years. It was riveting. From “I really did just think there were seven Fs in the sentence” […]
Tuesday was a good day. At least, it was for me. We began the day with a community Eucharist, where we shared a meal and focused afresh on God. Then classes started up. I had the joy of teaching two 1.5 credit classes in succession. Leaving aside that I wasn’t sure what time the first […]