Category: Dean’s Commentary

A Medieval Scholar Opens Up New Insights into Some of our Rare Book Treasures

Ever since Bishop Payne Library began preserving, curating, and exhibiting the thousands of rare books that it moved from General Theological Seminary to VTS in 2024, the collection has attracted many visitors, such as representatives from the Grolier Club, the Library of Congress, and the Folger Shakespeare Library. The results of these visits are conversations […]

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Researching A Modern Epistle

Since the discovery of an early typeset draft of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail in early March, the priorities of the archives staff have shifted to researching the origins and provenance of the document now in our possession. Nick, our intern, continued working on Bishop John and Esther Burgess’ papers, which […]

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The Library as Ministry

Ministry at a seminary takes on many forms, including some that may not be immediately visible. The library is one such place where ministry is practiced daily. At the Bishop Payne Library, I have come to understand librarianship as a form of ministry rooted in hospitality, service, and education. Each day begins before students, faculty, […]

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Chariots of Knowledge

This September marks my eight-year anniversary of working in libraries. I started my career in libraries in 2018 at a tiny, rural library in St. Clair County, AL, as a Library Clerk. I loved that job. While giving directions to the bathroom, instructing people on how to use the printer, and counting down the cash […]

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Formed for Ministry: Welcoming Our Doctoral Cohort

This summer, we will welcome approximately forty students for the three-week doctoral residency that combines intensive coursework, worship, and fellowship. Additional doctoral students have already completed their summer residencies and are writing their doctoral theses at home. Special congratulations to the eleven doctoral students who completed their degrees and graduated last month!  Our doctoral students are remarkable people. All of them […]

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The People Who Make the Doctoral Residency Possible

 As we anticipate welcoming students to campus on June 15, there are so many people and programs that make the doctoral residency possible. Faculty teach and mentor students, including full-time faculty and our dedicated doctoral Senior Lecturers. Many offices across VTS contribute to the residency as well. AASL, IA, and the Dean’s Office have all […]

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Prayer and Eucharist During the Doctoral Intensive

During the doctoral summer intensive which starts on June 15, we will have worship Monday through Friday at noon in the Immanuel Chapel. An opening Eucharist begins our time together on June 15. This year, we will also mark the midpoint of our time together on Wednesday, June 24, the Feast of St. John the Baptist. Our closing Eucharist completes the summer residency on July 3. […]

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Forming Leaders: The VTS Doctoral Advantage

On June 15, we will welcome to campus VTS doctoral students for their annual summer residency. In addition to our curriculum which focuses around three tracks—Ministry Development, Educational Leadership, and Christian Spirituality—there are four things that make the VTS doctoral programs distinct from other DMin programs.  First, the level of faculty engagement in our doctoral programs is first rate. In […]

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Connected Forever

Almost a dozen years ago, I moved to Virginia Theological Seminary for a period of three years.  I clearly remember that day in August 2015 when I pushed suitcases into room 104 in St. George’s dorm.  Within hours, I had met many of my new neighbors and I thought the bonding process was well underway. […]

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Reflections on a Journey of Faith

When I started at VTS in my August term, little did I know the continuing ride that I would be on with God and the amazing human beings I would meet during my time at VTS – human beings I still pray for and with, human beings I miss, and human beings I may not […]

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