The Rev. Janiece Williams joins the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) this academic year as a visiting professor, bringing her expertise in homiletics to the classroom. Her academic journey has taken her to Vanderbilt University, where she is currently ABD (All But Dissertation), indicating the depth of her scholarly engagement in homiletics. Rev. Williams’ commitment to […]
I am in Los Angeles this week with Senior Vice President Nicky Burridge, who oversees Advancement and Communications. This visit is a wonderful opportunity for me to connect with members of our extended Seminary family here on the West Coast. I am looking forward to spending time with friends and supporters who have been part […]
Sometimes I get an email and I found my mind going in a variety of directions. So, yesterday, Gabe Oakes explained that despite reminders the Flamingo is not being respected by the community. Even with repeated appeals, the spigot is not being turned off, the hot water is being drained, and trash is not being […]
Back in the Spring, I asked the Communications department to give the Seminary Covenant appropriate prominence on our front page of the website. I did so because in an age when DEI has suddenly become inappropriate and even wrong, I wanted our witness to be clear. And, given its prominence I listened to those words […]
The summer commentaries are amazing. Ms Kimberly Dunn made me tear up as I read her moving journey. I was in awe of Ms. Juanita Sanchez as she documented the hard work of the team in the Butterfly House as they pursue degrees. I enjoyed the music video that was part of the commentary written […]
In 2021, VTS received a $1M grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., to study models of mutual ministry currently operating across the wider Church and to discern how our Seminary curriculum might best prepare seminarians for these contemporary realities in the Episcopal Church. VTS is uniquely positioned to engage on-the-ground research as we are well-connected […]
The ministry of Forma is to celebrate, equip, support, and connect leaders who form followers of Jesus. We live into this ministry in a variety of ways: from online cohort gatherings of formation professionals across the church to advocacy for formation ministry at General Convention. Two of our major initiatives include the Certificate in Lifelong […]
Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative is a grant in the Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children in Worship & Prayer initiative. We began our work this spring with a review of the current literature around children’s spirituality and intergenerational ministry. Our team found, among other things, that there is a wealth of resources in both areas, […]
Behind every great leader is a great mentor. In previous eras of the Church, mentoring was an implied norm within both lay and clerical leadership models. After seminary, many priests received invaluable formation as curates, guided by seasoned clergy. Lay leaders often spent years—sometimes a generation—serving in supporting roles before stepping into key leadership positions. […]
Responding to God’s love. Finding meaning and fulfillment. Utilizing one’s unique gifts to meet the needs of the world—everyone baptized is called to enter a lifelong conversation with God about our ministry to the people and world around us. In the Department of Lifelong Learning, we describe this ongoing conversation as “activating baptism.” Our department’s […]