The last commentary reporting out decisions of the Board of Trustees is the approval of the Budget for 2024-2025. This is the “must do” work of the May Board meeting. The total budget approved is $20,920,483. This works within responsible (and Board approved parameters): an endowment draw rate of 4% and an increase in the […]
At the May Board meeting, one of the busiest committees of the Board of Trustees is the Academic Affairs Committee. They are responsible for voting the degree recipients for Commencement 2024. So, the list of names needs to be approved by the Board of Trustees. Then we had the sabbaticals to approve for Dr. Mitzi […]
Over the next few days, I will share the results of the deliberations from the Board of Trustees. I will start with the plenary which was held on Tuesday May 7. The start of the plenary focused on our Accreditation visit. Although the result will not be confirmed until the Commission of the Association of […]
Today I want to recommend a fabulous podcast by our very own the Rev. Dr. Ross Kane. There are three podcasts now available: the first one provides an overview of the podcast; the second invites Dr. Lerone Martin to reflect on how the Civil Rights Movement was built on local congregations; and the third (and […]
One of the nicest rejection responses to the Dean’s Cross honor came from the manager of Liverpool Football Club (this is the world of soccer in the United Kingdom). After consultation with the Board Chair, we were eager to honor a person in a predominantly secular world who lives out his faith. Liverpool is a […]
It is about this time every year I remind our Seminary community that a healthy life needs some space away. We need that pause; we need the different rhythm. Even if it is a “staycation” – where the pattern is coffee, reading the newspaper, spending longer on Instagram or whatever – this is better than […]
The massive sign in front of Aspinwall Hall as you arrive from Quaker Lane is very impressive. It is not simply in the new Seminary colors, it includes the Seminary logo. The idea is to make sure that you know that you have arrived. You are at Virginia Theological Seminary. It is inescapable. Giving the […]
There is so much that I admire about the hardworking staff of the Seminary. Every department has exceptional, hardworking staff who are making a difference. And today, I wish to recognize the staff in the Butterfly House. Caring for children is complicated. Appropriately enough, there are code requirements, regulations, and inspections. We do not simply […]
My last commentary on my trip to Tokyo is a short reflection on the Sunday worship. I made my way to St. Alban’s-by-St. Andrew’s Anglican-Episcopal Church. It was a full and very diverse congregation. The Rector is the Rev. Canon Michael Moyer. The worship was moving, careful, and done well. The 1982 Hymnal was part […]
There are some moments when one is honored to be the dean and president of Virginia Theological Seminary. The extraordinary event of Saturday May 11 in Tokyo, Japan was one of those moments. I was the living reminder of the founder of Rikkyo University. Channing Moore Williams, our alumus, made the journey in the middle […]