Category: Dean’s Commentary

Thank you Dr. Burnett

I do admire Dr. Marty Burnett. She learns of yet another ‘special’ service; and the talented Professor of Church Music steps forward to provide yet another rich musical array. The Chapel is sublime for music. This was a priority in the design. And the Chapel delivers. Our choir can sing in this space; it is […]

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Fine Preaching

Our students have the opportunity to preach in class, our own chapel and at their Contextual Ministry sites. But rarely are we provided with an occasion to preach to a gathering of students from other seminaries. This weekend, the Washington Theological Consortium Student Board is hosting its 10th annual Sermon Slam at Howard University and […]

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Tips from a priest who knows how to grow a congregation

I love the Deanery Evenings. I get to chat with some of our students. And tonight’s Deanery Evening is very special. The Rev. Brian Palmer has become THE priest at getting people involved in congregational life. The secret of congregational growth is involvement. The brave soul finds their way inside. To guarantee that the brave […]

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Thank you David Gortner

The Rev. David Gortner, PhD. is stepping down from his role as Program Principal for Thriving in Ministry and will complete his work on May 31, 2025. After transitioning from full time Faculty at VTS in 2018 to Rector of St. Luke’s in the Diocese of Spokane, David continued for seven years of building and […]

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Quiet Day

Finding space for sustained prayer is really difficult. Most of us just give God a few minutes and often when we are doing something else – driving the car, walking the dog, easing into the morning. But sitting with God in a sustained way and letting God speak to us is something that is hard […]

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Kate Sonderegger on the end of the traditional journal

I arrived in the office on Thursday already running late for my next meeting. I had 110 emails waiting. But as I picked up my mail the latest issue of Anglican Theological Review was sitting on the side. I noticed that the Rev. Dr. Katherine Sonderegger had an article in it called The Future of Theological […]

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Spring Visit Day

A long time ago…in a galaxy far, far away…YOU were a prospective student at Virginia Theological Seminary. Do you remember those days? And how it felt to step on campus for the first time? As part of your discernment process for seminary, you may have joined us for a Visit Day, which continues to be offered once […]

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Shout out from David Buresh

As promised, I am continuing to receive ‘shout outs’ from any employee. It is lovely when a staff member wants to recognize others for their hard work. So, today, we are hearing from David Buresh, our cataloger and rare book curator. He says this: “I’d like to do a staff Shout Out! to Jim Fitch, […]

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A book for our moment

Very many congratulation to the Rev. Dr. Altagracia Pérez-Bullard, whose book Equipping the Saints to Serve the City: Multicultural Education for Lay Leaders’ Inclusive Ministry (Claremont Press 2025) is now available; you can buy it here. It is an important, powerful, and intensely practical book. The focus is urban ministry (inevitably diverse) and the need to […]

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The last quarter

We settled into Chapel to listen to a fine sermon from Jackson Davey yesterday morning. The fourth quarter had started. Slowly we ease into the journey to the end of the academic year. The Spring Break pause is good and important because the last semester is often very full and complicated. It is full because, […]

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