Date: September 25, 2020
Last night, Institutional Advancement held a virtual event for friends to relaunch our capital campaign. Vice President Linda Dienno navigated (after some instruction from Jeff Harre) the complexities of the zoom; the Rev. Dr. Barney Hawkins and I hosted the event; we had over thirty guests attending; and we used it as an opportunity to learn from those present how we can do this work in better ways. Our Bicentennial will only happen once. We will give to the future a campus ready for the formation of church leaders. We are committed to an array of construction projects and program initiatives. God willing, countless lives will be changed by the ministry of VTS in the future. Many of our graduates will serve congregations and non-profits. They will spread the Gospel and kingdom values, bringing hope to many as they struggle with the demands of living.
Yet, as we acknowledge this extraordinary moment, we are deeply aware of the crushing needs and suffering around the country and the world. So, we invite all those who are able to support not simply the Seminary but also their local congregation, Episcopal Relief and Development, and other organizations which are seeking to offer hope in this difficult season. We are trying hard to get the balance right: we need to fund this our program initiatives and campus construction, but we also need to support others. The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D. Dean and President