Date: March 5, 2026
It was a joy to welcome the Rev. Ragan Sutterfield back to Virginia Theological Seminary. Ragan is an extraordinary priest and a wonderful role model for our students. A graduate of VTS in 2015, he was deeply involved with Cultivate VTS during his time here, and that early passion for environmental theology has continued to grow and flourish. Over the years he has developed into a thoughtful author and commentator on the relationship between faith, creation, and the spiritual life.
During the evening he guided us through his beautiful book The Art of Being a Creature: Meditations on Humus and Humility, reflecting on the ways humility, soil, and creaturely existence invite us into a deeper awareness of God’s creation. You can buy it here. He also spoke about his most recent work, Watch and Wonder: Birding as a Spiritual Practice, offering a glimpse into how the attentive practice of birdwatching can become a pathway to contemplation and gratitude. You can buy it here. Throughout the conversation he referred warmly to his time at VTS, noting how the formation he received here helped shape the theological vision that now informs his writing and ministry.
Ragan now combines this growing public voice with his parish ministry as an Associate Priest in Little Rock, Arkansas. In many ways he is becoming a wonderful example of the scholar-priest: grounded in the daily life of the parish while also contributing thoughtfully to national conversations about faith and the environment. It was a delight to have him with us for a Deanery evening. Ragan, please do carry on the good work.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.Â