Lesley, Luke, and I moved to the United States in June 2001. That August, we went to the top of the World Trade Center for dinner in the rotating restaurant, watching the extraordinary panorama of New York unfold around us. Just weeks later, on September 11, the towers were attacked and destroyed. The event became […]
One of the great privileges of life at VTS is the presence among us of the Rev’d Professor Sarah Coakley—an exceptional theological pioneer, a remarkable scholar, and one of the leading Anglican theologians in the world. Beginning on Wednesday, September 16, Sarah will once again lead our weekly practice of Quiet Prayer in the Oratory, […]
Yesterday, I preached at the Start of the Semester Service. It is always a special moment. Unfortunately, the sound system was not functionary, so some could not hear what I had to say. So, without boring you with all the details, I shared my perspective on Generative AI. And in the process of doing so, […]
It is a joy to welcome everyone to the beginning of a new academic year. Yesterday’s Labor Day picnic was, as always, a delightful occasion – a chance to gather, renew friendships, and enjoy the spirit of community that makes VTS such a distinctive place. It provides a fitting transition into the semester ahead. The […]
The Steering Committee of the African American Episcopal Historical Collection (AAEHC) is honored to invite you to the second annual Bishop John T. Walker Symposium and Commemoration, September 24, 2026. This event honors the life of the Rt. Rev. John Thomas Walker through worship and the exploration of various topics in the history of Black […]
Today Intercultural Competency Training begins. A fundamental Christian obligation is to challenge racism in all its forms. This should not be controversial, but strangely, we are in a season when such a claim is considered ‘too woke’. The reaction against DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) has been virulent. White people we are told need protecting […]
The Rev. Christian Anderson was a fabulous student and now he is a compelling and remarkable priest. One of the great questions of the Christian life is deceptively simple: how do we know what God is calling us to do? Tonight, Virginia Theological Seminary has the privilege of hosting Jesus Was Not a Doorman, an […]
Today we have the sculpture dedication, which honours Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, the Bishop of Washington. There will be evening prayer in the chapel, followed by the dedication at the sculpture, and then a reception to which all are invited in the Welcome Center, followed by the launch of a collection of essays entitled “Have […]
Today we welcome a group of Chancellors to the Seminary. These are key people in the church who advise Bishops on all matters legal pertaining to their diocese. We are gathering to think about the concept of a ‘peculiar’. Although this word is not found in the polity of the Episcopal Church, it is often […]
When the Deanery was being renovated, we had a gift for art, and the Deanery now holds a significant art collection. Perhaps the most significant painting is the one by Leo Twiggs called “The Death of George Floyd,” 2020. We had an approach from the Gibbs Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, for us […]