Date: May 8, 2026
The summer is upon us, bringing with it both continuity and change in the rhythm of Seminary life. Yesterday, we closed the Seminary at 2pm in recognition of an earlier era when the academic year ran from September to May and the summer months offered a true pause. That tradition reminds us of a different pace, even as our current reality has evolved.
Today, rightly and properly, we use the campus for mission and ministry throughout the year. Summer programming will soon begin, including the DMin and a range of grant-funded initiatives that extend our reach and impact. Even today holds significance, as we gather for an all-day Faculty meeting culminating in a dinner that celebrates our shared work and community.
This also marks the final commentary that I will write for this season. The task now passes to our departments, each of which will lift up an aspect of their work and offer their own voice. I look forward to these perspectives, and although I will be present for much of the summer, I bid farewell to our readers and invite you to enjoy the rich voices from across the campus.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.