Category: Dean’s Commentary

Student Government Elections

Student Government is an act of service to the community. We are grateful to all those who add this responsibility to their lives. I am looking forward to working with the new elected leaders to ensure that the Seminary continues to be a place of formation for the Gospel. Student Body Government Karen Klein -President […]

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Spring Break

This week is spring break. It is that pause in the semester that enables faculty and students to refresh. For many students, this is when they travel home or go and see friends. I learned at lunch yesterday that some are planning a trip to New York to see a show. While most of the […]

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Budget Meetings

This has been the season of budget meetings. The parameters of the Budget are set by the Board of Trustees. This sets the draw rate from the endowment, any adjustments to fees, and the hoped for COLA. Then the administration gets to work. Typically, each department head meets with Senior Vice President Ballou and me. […]

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Spotlight on Two Diocese of Virginia Alumni

As you can imagine, our alumni have a wide range of accomplishments in ministry, research, and pedagogy around the country and the globe. Outside of this range of work, alums are creative in how they express and share their faith with the broader community. Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly (VTS, 2009) is the winner of a recent […]

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Thank you Traditional Worship Team

Many different types of services could have worked for Shrove Tuesday. Perhaps the Praise Band would have been a fitting climax to the season of Epiphany and the preparation for a holy lent. But as it happens it was the Traditional Worship Team. The service was taken from the American Missal, which was published in […]

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Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is one of those occasions when we make two trips to the altar. One to receive the ashes; the other to receive the sacrament. It is a solemn day as we start our season recognizing the hard work of repentance and invite God to work on our lives in this season. 2025 is […]

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Shrove Tuesday – Prepare for a Fast Day

Shrove Tuesday is a significant day. It is the day we use to prepare for Lent. It is a day when we indulge a little as we recognize that we are entering a season when we will deliberately deny ourselves those things that we could easily have. Tomorrow is one of two days recommended for […]

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The Holy Act of Remembrance

The act of remembrance is central to the Scriptures. The Eucharist is an act of remembrance, explains Paul to the Church of Corinth. The Jewish people are obligated in Deuteronomy to “remember the commandments” and various strategies are explicated to ensure that happens. The reason why remembrance is so important is because with memory things […]

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Bishop Rose’s review of VTS

I woke up this morning early. I was having breakfast with Bishop Rose Okeno. She is the first diocesan Bishop in the Church of Kenya. I listened and marveled as she shared her journey – both the joys and challenges of her ministry. I was especially touched by the moving affirmation of the community’s welcome. […]

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More Shout Outs

Our Director of the Butterfly House sends this Shout Out: “To the Amazing Assistant Director and Teaching Team at the Butterfly House, I just wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation and admiration for all that you do! Your tireless efforts to provide a nurturing, engaging, and safe environment for the children […]

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