When the Rev. Dr. Barney Hawkins and I started planning the Historic Bicentenary Pilgrimage in England, we had no idea that the first evening – the evening when the group gathers in the Hotel called the Rubens by the Palace – that her Majesty the Queen would pass into glory. But so events unfolded. It […]
In the coming weeks and months, hundreds of lower-income families in the City of Alexandria are facing imminent eviction from their homes. At the height of the COVID pandemic, when many people could not work, lower-income families relied on rental assistance from the State to help pay their rent. However, the State rental assistance program […]
Did you know that we have resources for pastoral care and counseling at VTS? This resource offers support and guidance to the VTS Community – yes, that means you- by offering opportunities to work with a spiritual director. Spiritual direction differs from standard therapy because your personalized sessions are oriented with the focus of discerning […]
Today is the start of a new semester. We will gather in Chapel for the start of the Semester service. Fall semester classes are beginning. There is a freshness to a new start which is exciting. It is like the new page of a journal. It is fresh, clean, and ready to be filled with […]
In June, the Office of Multicultural Ministries, in partnership with the Office of the Dean and President, hosted a formal gala honoring the descendants of the Reparations Program. The evening included live music, a short program, and a striking display of the historical and genealogical research uncovered thus far. In attendance were over 200 descendants […]
This September marks three years since the Seminary announced the creation of its Reparations Program. The funds within the Program’s now $2.2 million endowment are exclusively designated for payments to our participating shareholders- the direct descendants of African Americans whose labor built and sustained VTS. Over the course of the last few years, the Program’s […]
This year’s Introduction to Intercultural Competency begins today with a special presentation for incoming seminarians on the Doctrine of Discovery. Formulated in 1496, this doctrine claimed that Christian monarchs had the right to control lands inhabited by non-Christians. It ultimately caused great harm and suffering to Indigenous communities. Today’s session is being led by the […]
The Seminarians of Color Union (SOCU) is a vibrant organization that gathers students, staff, and faculty from various races, languages, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds for safe conversations, fellowship, and support. SOCU was founded with the goal of creating a supportive, nurturing, and communal environment wherein all voices are acknowledged, and the diverse cultures and gifts […]
Every year, the Office of Multicultural Ministries organizes numerous events designed “to promote a communal life that values every member,” an important aim found in VTS’s Seminary Covenant. In consultation with the Dean’s Task Force on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, we decided that our programming for 2022-2023 should focus on the theme, “Equipping Agents of […]
This year CACS is excited to help VTS welcome five new international students: two M.Div. students and three M.A. students. Amelia Bello ’25 is from Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic and is an M.Div. student. Before VTS, she received a L.L.B. from Action for Education and Culture University (UNAPEC). She has also worked as […]