Date: May 21, 2025
Core to my understanding of the Gospel is God’s call for us to strive for justice and meet the material needs of all of God’s children.
When I arrived at VTS as a first year MDiv student last fall, I was looking for something that would help me live into this call. I didn’t want seminary to feel like I was climbing up into an ivory tower and completely removing myself from participating in the ongoing work of caring for my community and seeking justice for all.
I was glad to learn about the Justice and Reconciliation Society, VOICE, and the Saint Nicholas Center for Faith and Justice.
Through VOICE, I’ve been able to meet members of the Alexandria community from varying backgrounds who have been coming together to work towards affordable housing accessibility, behavioral health improvements, education improvements, and judicial system reform. I got off campus to participate in planning meetings and actions such as the From Anxiety to Action educational meeting. I also was able to help welcome VOICE and labor organizers to VTS campus for the Faith and Labor Summit hosted by the Saint Nicholas Center for Faith and Justice.
Participating in community organizing with VOICE and as a Saint Nicholas Fellow has been a great addition to my seminary education thus far. It has invited me to put my theology into practice and learn from others who are also working on this journey towards justice.
My hope for next year is that even more students will find ways of participating in the work of justice that resonate with them and their understanding of God through VOICE, the Saint Nicholas Center, and/or the flexibility of JARS.
Victoria Linner
Saint Nicholas Fellow
M.Div. student at VTS planning to graduate in 2027