During the summer, I had the privilege of serving as a keynote speaker at the twelfth triennial gathering of the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion, hosted with extraordinary hospitality by Trinity University of Asia in Quezon City. The conference drew educators, chaplains, and leaders from across the Communion to consider artificial intelligence, ethics, […]
Everyone will have (and many readers already have had) this moment. It is when you can see the end of your time in a particular place. The Search Committee of the Board has been formed. Listening sessions have been held. The position description is available on our website. The journey begins. Applications are coming in. […]
I enjoyed the summer months where I learn so much about the rest of the Seminary. So many great commentaries have been written. From student government to facilities to Lifelong Learning, there is much to celebrate as we start this new academic year. Thank you for making me smile; thank you for sharing all the […]
Here I am on this Wednesday morning writing this commentary after the momentous news of two giants in theological education: Lisa Kimball and Ruthanna Hooke. On July 31st, Lisa Kimball retired from her position as Vice President of Lifelong Learning after serving at VTS since 2009. On August 4th, Seminary of the Southwest and VTS […]
Inspired by the Garden Church movement in England, TryTank launched its El Jardin initiative in 2025 to nurture a network of lay-led missional communities that encourage simple, replicable “church” in the home. We planted with modest hopes. The plan called for four Jardines in Puerto Rico by summer of 2026. Instead, there are eleven. These are small communities gathering midweek in homes and other spaces across the island to share a meal, open the […]
Lifelong Learning public programs represent a mix of in-person and online offerings that make the wisdom and expertise of Christian formation and theological leaders available to a diverse audience of learners. It’s become common for these programs to be led by a member of the Virginia Theological Seminary faculty. Professors Shawn Strout, Kyle Lambelet, Katherine Grieb presented a program during 2025-2026. This […]
Lifelong Learning’s Launching into Ministry (LiM) program supports Virginia Theological Seminary students in the first years of spiritual leadership following graduation. It’s a time defined by facing new challenges and new joys as graduates move (quickly!) from the abstract theory of the classroom to lived practice in a parish or other ministry context. The support LiM facilitates comes primarily through relationships: one-on-one […]
During the 2027 Annual Forma Conference (January 25–29, 2027), formation leaders from across the Church will gather to explore one of the most overlooked yet essential gifts entrusted to our vocation—the capacity to imagine. Not imagination as fantasy or mere creativity, but imagination as a holy practice: the Spirit-shaped ability to perceive God’s activity in the world, to […]
I am taking a deep breath. Tonight at 12:01am I will be officially retired from my position as James Maxwell Professor of Lifelong Christian Formation and Vice President of Lifelong Learning. Since 2009 this seminary has been my classroom and my home. I came with gifts to teach, research, and manage. I encountered colleagues who modeled patience and rigor in […]
Lifelong Learning’s Preaching Congregations Initiative (PCi), is a congregationally-based program of renewal and formation for preachers and listeners. Funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., the overarching purpose of this program is to make preaching a truly communal endeavor, one for which preachers and listeners take responsibility and develop local, sustainable practices to identify and support preachers. Recently, our PCi team announced a Young Adult Preaching Program, […]