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Search for the next Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and The General Theological Seminary

VTS’s Presidential Search

Shaping VTS and GTS for their next century of service

The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D., Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) and President of The General Theological Seminary (GTS) has announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2027-2028 academic year after 21 years of exceptional leadership.

His planned retirement marks both a moment of deep gratitude and an opportunity for thoughtful discernment as the seminaries look toward their next chapter of leadership and service to the Church.

The Boards of Trustees of VTS and GTS are undertaking an international search to find the next Dean and President of the two affiliated seminaries. The process, which will include extensive engagement with stakeholders across both institutions and the wider Episcopal Church, is expected to run until the summer or fall of 2027, with the new Dean and President assuming office in July 2028.

This webpage serves as the central hub for information, updates, and opportunities for engagement throughout the search process. As the work unfolds, it will be updated regularly with details about listening sessions, timelines, and ways the community can participate in this important season of discernment.

Messages from the Dean and President and Chair of the Boards of Trustees

A Letter from the Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D., Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and President of The General Theological Seminary

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A Letter from Dr. David Charlton, Chair of the Boards of Trustees

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About the Seminaries

Virginia Theological Seminary

Virginia Theological Seminary was founded in 1823 and has a long tradition of shaping faithful women and men, lay and ordained, for leadership in The Episcopal Church and beyond. It is the strongest seminary in the Anglican Communion and provides more than 25 percent of the clergy of The Episcopal Church. It is a residential seminary offering Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees, Post-Graduate Diplomas in Anglican Studies and Theology, and a Pathway to Ministry program. It also offers hybrid Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Educational Ministry degrees. In the 2025-2026 academic year, it had 124 Master’s-level students and 71 doctoral students. All full-time residential students pursuing a Master’s-level degree are eligible for full scholarship packages covering tuition, housing, and meal plans. The Seminary has 20 full-time faculty, as well as library and other support staff.

In addition to offering degree programs, VTS is home to four centers including:

  • Lifelong Learning which provides resources for those in ministry, ongoing education opportunities, and conducts research and development to strengthen The Episcopal Church
  • The Center for Anglican Communion Studies which acts as a connector within the global Anglican Church.
  • TryTank Research Institute, an experimental lab for church growth and innovation.
  • The Saint Nicholas Center for Faith and Justice which promotes social transformation and advocacy for those living on the margins.

In 2019, VTS created a Reparations Program as part of its commitment to recognizing its participation in oppression in the past and working towards healing and justice in the future. It remains the only educational institution in the United States to make annual cash payments in perpetuity to the descendants of those who labored on the campus during slavery and the Jim Crow era.

You can read VTS’ Mission Statement here: vts.edu/mission/

The General Theological Seminary

The General Theological Seminary was founded in 1817. It is the oldest seminary of The Episcopal Church and the oldest continually operating seminary in the Anglican Communion. It was chartered by an act of The Episcopal Church’s General Convention, and its name was chosen to reflect its founders’ vision that it be a seminary to serve the whole church.

In 2022, GTS made the decision to end its residential programs and focus on offering a hybrid Master of Divinity degree. The program, which can be completed in three or four years, is delivered through online synchronous learning, with students taking part in up to three in-person intensive weeks each year. Two of these residential weeks are held at GTS’s historic New York City home, the Close, and one is held at VTS. The program is capped at a total of 60 students, all of whom receive full tuition scholarships.

In 2025, GTS agreed to lease the Close to Vanderbilt University for 99 years. Under the terms of the lease, GTS retains a year-round presence on the Close and has access to accommodation for six weeks a year for the MDiv intensive weeks and Alumni Week. Vanderbilt pays rent, covers the annual running costs of the Close and is responsible for building repairs.

You can read GTS’s Mission Statement here: www.gts.edu/mission-vision

The Affiliation Agreement

Virginia Theological Seminary and The General Theological Seminary entered an Affiliation Agreement in November 2022. Under the terms of the Agreement, the two seminaries operate as separate institutions with their own distinct identities, traditions and ethos. They maintain independent governance, finances, and accreditation. The two seminaries have separate Boards of Trustees, although the membership of the Boards is identical, with the exception of student, faculty and alumni representatives. They share a senior management team, including a chief executive, chief financial officer, chief academic officer, and chief communications and advancement officer. In addition, VTS provides services for GTS, including library facilities, advancement and alumni support, admissions and academic administrative support. Several faculty hold joint appointments.

The Search Committee

The Search Committee has been appointed by the Boards of Trustees of VTS and GTS and reflects broad representation including trustees, Bishops, faculty, alumni, clergy and lay leaders, LGBTQIA+ persons, and representatives of Latino ministries. The Committee will oversee the search process in partnership with the executive search firm, Isaacson, Miller, hired by the Boards.

Search Firm Partner

We are excited to partner with Isaacson, Miller, a leading executive search firm with deep expertise in theological education and nonprofit leadership transitions. Isaacson, Miller will support the search process, help engage the community, and identify candidates who embody the mission and future aspirations of VTS and GTS.

Contact details:

Search Timeline

The search process will begin with extensive listening sessions with stakeholder groups, such as alumni, students, faculty, staff, and members of the wider Episcopal Church to identify the qualities and qualifications the new Dean and President should have. A position description will be created in the summer of 2026 following these listening sessions, after which the applications will open.

The new Dean and President will be announced in the summer or fall of 2027, with a view to them taking office on July 1, 2028, when Dean Markham retires. The seminaries have opted for an extended timeline for the search to ensure access to the broadest possible pool of candidates.

Dean and President Profile

The profile for the position of Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and The General Theological Seminary will be created following the extensive listening sessions with stakeholders.

Please check this page again in the summer 2026.

Submit an Application

We will start accepting applications once the job description has been published.

Please check this page again in the summer of 2026 for details on how to submit an application.

All applications will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Thank you!

Contact

Isaacson, Miller