Category: Dean’s Commentary

A Warm Welcome the Rev. Dr. Richard Burridge

The Rev. Dr. Richard Burridge is a good friend of Virginia Theological Seminary. If you look at his publications over the years,  you will see that we are often given credit for a being a place where there is space and opportunity to write. He made several plans to visit us in 2021, but a […]

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Morning Prayer in January

It is true that the formal exception of one corporate act of worship does not start until the formal semester starts. The provision of chapel services in January is focused on those enrolled in January term classes and those who wish to keep the practice going in between semesters. So attendance is not required; however, […]

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A Faculty Retreat

The Faculty all got tested for COVID, and I am pleased to report that we all tested negative. So we started our traditional January retreat. It is an opportunity to think about our work together. We were blessed with the presence of Dr. Roger Nam from Emory (a consultant on teaching whose visit was made […]

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Lecture at High Point University

It was my privilege to deliver a lecture yesterday at High Point University. The topic was “Theodicy Revisited: The Atonement as Penance.” It took place in a window between two snow storms. It was lovely to meet such an energetic and strong department of religion and philosophy. And it was lovely to see John Wesley […]

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Please Pause Before You Click

Of the many worries that I have the gift of carrying, one is computer security. In my discussion with FDS yesterday, we talked about “phishing attempts.” Apparently, in a test over the last two weeks, 20% of our community clicked on a “suspicious” link. Fortunately, this was only a test. If it had been a […]

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Yesterday was an important day. The national calendar of the United States has this important moment where we recognize the work that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. started and that we must progress. It is a moment when we are invited to examine our history as a nation and acknowledge the evil of slavery and […]

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COVID Test Results

It is inevitable as we navigate this season that the VTS community is interested in the results of our COVID testing. In the last two weeks, two further students have come down with the variant, along with one staff member in facilities. The two students are both living in the apartments. In all cases, we […]

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Lego Reproduction Work Complete

It is spectacular. It is a piece of extraordinary art. It takes three of the oldest buildings on the campus and reproduces, in extraordinary detail, the complexities of those buildings. I am pleased to announce that the Lego reproduction of Aspinwall, Meade, and Bohlen halls is now complete. I added the cross to the top […]

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The Flamingo Is Open

Every morning I try to get across to the Flamingo. It means I get a few steps in (which is tricky when it is so cold outside). Once there, I resist the urge to have a free cup of drip coffee. I am aware that we have two employees providing a wonderful service and some […]

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