Date: September 28, 2026
This week, the 2026 cohort of the Forma Certificate in Lifelong Christian Formation gathers at VTS for a five-day residency. Our group of 10 learners and 2 facilitators is excited to experience all that campus life has to offer. You may catch a glimpse of our bright faces in chapel, in the halls, on the green, and in the refectory.
This year’s cohort is a mix of priests and lay leaders from across the church. They serve in a cathedral, a bilingual English and Spanish parish, a growing parish with mostly older members outside a big city, and busy program-size churches. Many are new to their roles. Several came to formation ministry from other careers, including nursing, classroom teaching, higher education and the study of literature. Most say they learned their ministry on the job. Now they want a stronger foundation, both theological and practical, to lead with more confidence.
The questions they bring are real and specific:
- How do we reach families when kids are overbooked and attendance is sporadic?
- How do we recruit, support, and keep volunteers?
- How do we form disciples across two languages and cultures?
- How do we build formation that will outlast any one program or leader?
They also share a hope for community. As one participant put it, ministers can easily become isolated. They are looking forward to colleagues and mentors who will help them carry the vision together.
In their own words, formation is “not a class you finish or a box you check.” It is a lifelong journey in which “no one assumes they’ve arrived.” One participant describes formation leaders as “God’s pottery studio assistants.”
The certificate is a year-long joint program of Forma and Virginia Theological Seminary. It combines monthly online gatherings, self-paced coursework – taught by VTS faculty and seasoned practitioners – and this on-campus residency. Throughout the year, each participant is supported by the program facilitators, their peer learners, a mentor, and a spiritual director. Each one also completes a capstone project that takes on a real challenge in their own ministry.
We believe learning happens in community, and we hope you’ll help welcome the certificate cohort to campus and make them feel a part of the VTS community during their short stay.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and President of The General Theological Seminary