Date: January 30, 2026
We are moving quickly toward a Board meeting, which means this is the season when our Trustees are gathering in their various committees. Over the course of this week, we have met with the Trustees Committee, the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and the Finance Committee. Each of these meetings represents a significant moment in the life of the institution and requires careful preparation and thoughtful engagement.
Behind every committee meeting is a substantial amount of work. Papers must be assembled with care, circulated in advance, and read closely; questions must be anticipated; and the meetings themselves must be thoughtfully convened and chaired. This work is not incidental—it is essential to good governance and faithful stewardship, and it reflects the seriousness with which our Trustees approach their responsibilities.
I am deeply grateful to our volunteer Board members, who give generously of their time, wisdom, and energy. A volunteer board works hard, and ours works exceptionally hard. I am also profoundly thankful to the staff and faculty of VTS and GTS, whose preparation, analysis, and commitment make this work possible and effective. This is shared labor, and it is a gift to the institutions we serve.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.