Two distinguished lives who are close to the Seminary have recently passed into eternity. And today, I wish to just acknowledge their gifts among us. We start with General Colin Powell: a committed Episcopalian who was honored by the Seminary with an honorary doctorate in October 1999. He died at the age of 84, after […]
Yesterday I had a full report on Dean’s Table. This is a good and helpful vehicle for seminarians to raise questions and issues. One particular issue that was raised was “communication.” Especially in respect to Convocation, there was a sense that the communication could have been clearer. Was it possible, for example, for seminarians to […]
It is about now in the middle of the semester that the sheer number of things I am supposed to do is a little overwhelming. I suspect this is true of everyone. The glow of regathering after a summer apart is over. Now we are in the midst of lectures and assignments. For staff, the […]
Today we celebrate the 198th anniversary of our founding with our annual Giving Day to raise money for the mission and ministry of VTS through the Annual Fund. On campus and online, we will celebrate an important truth: God calls us to accomplish together what we could never do alone. At VTS, gifts of every […]
The (still) new VTS website continues to grow and to impress. This week, a new timeline element went live, with information going back to the time before Virginia Theological Seminary was Virginia Theological Seminary. Curated in a beautiful and innovative way by the Seminary Archives and the Communications Office, this exciting section of the site […]
The Sprigg Lecture yesterday was extraordinary. Dr. Donyelle McCray provided insight into her exciting new project. Using the form of a letter, she explored the ways in which Pauli Murray combined her activism with her contemplation. It was powerful, moving, and beautiful. Today we have the AAEC (Alumni Alumnae Executive Council) meeting. It is the […]
I found yesterday so moving. It was lovely to talk to alums; the reunion dinner was moving; and the buzz at 1823 after that dinner was energetic and beautiful. The most moving moment, however, was the dedication of a tree in honor of the Rev. Jennifer R. Durant (class of 2011). She died of ALS […]
This week we celebrate our wonderful alumni as we prepare to welcome them “home” for Class Reunions and Alumni Convocation. The Class Stewards and the Alumni Association Executive Committee (AAEC) also hold their fall meetings on campus this week. After the 2019 year of campus construction and the 2020 year of COVID, it is a […]
Several African proverbs are loosely translated, “It takes a village to raise a child.” This undeniable fact is true for us in the church. The formation of children is not to be relegated to staff professionals or expected of parents alone. Laity, priests, and even scholars are entrusted with the formation of children in all […]
It was Dr. Mitzi Budde who shared at the Policy Administrative Meeting (PAM) how precious her Formation Group — meeting face to face — has become to her. It is true that the gift of proximity and presence is especially felt when we gather in a faculty home to share. One gift of this year […]