Date: May 7, 2026
Today we send forth our graduates into the world to serve the God of love who seeks to transform human lives. This is a moment of deep joy and profound responsibility for both the graduates and the Seminary. It marks not an ending, but a beginning shaped by calling, courage, and grace.
There is, of course, considerable skepticism about the viability of the Church. Over the decades, I have often heard predictions of its inevitable decline, yet those predictions have consistently proven wrong. In recent years, The Episcopal Church has shown signs of growth, and while we have not yet returned to pre-Covid numbers, the trajectory is encouraging.
At the same time, there is a clear clergy shortage, meaning the harvest is abundant while the laborers are too few. Our graduates go out into a world full of opportunity for ministry and transformation. So we pray for them: may God bless their ministry, and may they always remember that once you are part of VTS, you are always part of VTS.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.