The Rev. Dr. Andrew McGowan and Dr. Felicity Harley-McGowan, our current Dean’s Scholars at Virginia Theological Seminary, are entering the final three weeks of their time with us. Lesley and I had the great pleasure of welcoming them to the Deanery for dinner last night. As they reflected on their stay, one highlight stood out: […]
Verna Dozier (1917–2006) was one of the Episcopal Church’s leading African American lay theologians. A Washingtonian educated at Howard University, she taught in the District’s public schools for decades, then, after retiring early in 1975, gave herself full time to religious education and to the ministry of God’s people in the world. Her ties to […]
As you all know, Virginia Theological Seminary has been doing something no other institution has done: offering direct cash reparations, with no restrictions attached, to descendants of the enslaved and exploited Black laborers who built this place. Bridging Ground, a new documentary by Peabody Award winner Mark Farkas and Emmy winner Roan Ross, tells that […]
Last Tuesday, I preached about the dangers of AI. I continue to believe that this sector needs regulation. I also invited us to become AI literate. This can be done in many ways: for some it might be reading a good book or article on AI. For me, it was to learn how to use […]
Pastor Elwood Jones represents a profound milestone in the history of the Virginia Theological Seminary. As the first descendant within the institution’s reparations program to earn a degree, his graduation this past summer with a Master of Arts marks a significant moment for both the individual and the Seminary. We hope he is the first […]
In February 2024, I had the privilege of attending the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation in Seoul, South Korea. Liturgical scholars from across the Anglican Communion gathered at the Cathedral Church of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Nicholas for scholarship, conversation, fellowship, and worship. I remember the worship especially fondly. Familiar Anglican liturgies sounded and […]
I love being here. And I also love traveling. Getting the balance between these two is tricky. With the pilgrimages that the Seminary organizes, I aspire to be present for at least a week of the trip. So this week, I am in England participating in the “Grace and Gardens Pilgrimage”. I will be joining […]
The annual flu clinic returns to campus on Friday, September 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in LPER. Healthcare professionals will be on site to administer this season’s vaccine at no cost to students, faculty, staff, and members of their households. The clinic is offered each year as a matter of practical convenience, but […]
Lesley, Luke, and I moved to the United States in June 2001. That August, we went to the top of the World Trade Center for dinner in the rotating restaurant, watching the extraordinary panorama of New York unfold around us. Just weeks later, on September 11, the towers were attacked and destroyed. The event became […]
One of the great privileges of life at VTS is the presence among us of the Rev’d Professor Sarah Coakley—an exceptional theological pioneer, a remarkable scholar, and one of the leading Anglican theologians in the world. Beginning on Wednesday, September 16, Sarah will once again lead our weekly practice of Quiet Prayer in the Oratory, […]