Date: January 14, 2025
It is my practice to drop a note to alums impacted by disasters. I feel such moments personally. The moment when I watched the VTS Chapel go up in flames in 2010 gave me a sense of empathy with anyone who suffers such loss. Just recently, the need for these notes have come quickly – one after another. So, we had the hurricanes devastate North Carolina and Florida. We had New Orleans truck attack on New Year’s Day. And we are still seeing the continuing impact of the wildfires that are devastating Los Angeles.
Our siblings in Christ are hurting. As exhorted by Scripture, we reach out. We promise our prayers and whatever support that we are able to offer. This is a difficult season for so many of our alums. It takes many months, sometimes years, to recover from these tragedies.
I am grateful to Ms. Shelagh Casey Brown who handles alumni relationships. She does all the logistics involved in these complex moments. She does this work well and carefully. Thank you Shelagh.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary