Today two Board committees are meeting. The Buildings and Grounds Committee meets in the morning; the Investment Committee meeting of VTS meets in the afternoon. Yesterday, the Institutional Advancement Committee met. Last week, it was the Finance Committee and the Investment Committee of GTS. During the pandemic, we moved all Board meetings on to zoom. […]
Last night, we had twenty students in the St. Paul’s Library of the Deanery. Our speaker was the Rev. Alexander H. Webb II (class 2010). The topic was “Fundraising as Pastoral Care”. It was riveting. Here was an alum, the Rector of the Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis, Tennessee, who sketched out five […]
In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life & History (ASALH), created Negro History Week to highlight the invaluable contributions of African Americans. Dr. Woodson selected the week in February that included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, and in 1975, ASALH expanded the […]
Yesterday, the community of VTS gathered to start the new semester. At the start of the semester service, Carolyn Hart turned to me and said, “I love this – I love the Faculty procession”. It was quite a sight. In addition, we had the privilege of singing a Sanctus setting which was commissioned by the […]
We all have moments when we just need to “veg out” and watch some TV. Like all entertainment, one needs to consume the TV in moderation, but in moderation it is good. And if you are anything like me, then you appreciate the occasional recommendation. Sitting with the Rev. Dr. Robert Heaney and the Rev. […]
Today is the last working day at VTS for Elly Hahn. She came on board early in 2021 and has directly supported so much at VTS while bringing her own brand of hard work, thoughtful assessment, and great sense of fun. In the support of students she led the planning process for their onboarding in […]
Our tour around the country where we are marking the moment of our historic Bicentenary continues. We are now in Los Angeles. It is always a lovely occasion. We gather. We enjoy fellowship. We have a short program, where we see the results of the $62 million capital campaign; we admire the slides of a […]
It is wonderful to welcome to General Theological Seminary the students who are on the hybrid MDiv. We are delighted that you are in the amazing city of New York. Thank you for coming. We live in a season where you have many options in theological education. In Alexandria, VA., we have the traditional three […]
Last Friday, the GTS Faculty met. At the beginning of the Faculty meeting, there was a “check in”. Suddenly, children, spouses, and Christmas were to the fore. The burning of hair (long story) was prominent, interesting, and yes, funny. Seeing the whole person was a gift. Yesterday, the VTS Faculty met. Right at the beginning, […]
GTS and VTS are both old. GTS is slightly older than VTS. But reaching two hundred years is a milestone by any standards. During 2023, VTS will have a range of occasions that invite us to reflect, pray, and think about our identity as a place of formation. As we do this work, I am […]