Category: Dean’s Commentary

The VTS Family Gathers for An Inaugural Lecture

A rich day looms today. We start at 8:15am with a Eucharist and Bishop Emily Onyango, Ph.D., as our preacher. Then in the afternoon, we have the Inaugural Lecture for the Dodge Chair from the Rev. Judy Fentress-Williams, Ph.D. Then at 5.15pm, we have the Convocation Evensong and Awarding of Honorary Degrees. An Inaugural Lecture […]

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Welcome to the Class Reunions and Alumni Convocation

This week we celebrate our wonderful alumni as we prepare to welcome them “home” for Class Reunions and Alumni Convocation. The Convocation keynoter is our very own Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams, Dodge Professor of Biblical Literature, and her keynote address on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. — “Find Your Way Back”: Forming an Ancestral Identity — […]

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Message to friends and alumni about Helene and Milton

For today’s commentary, I am sharing the email below which went to friends and alumni of VTS yesterday. Given Faculty, staff, and students do not see those emails, I thought it would be appreciated to see what I said on behalf of the VTS Community. Dear Friends and Alums of VTS, First it was Helene; […]

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$1.25 million for child-centered practices in worship

Some of the most important work that VTS does is found in Lifelong Learning and is funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc. Today, we are able to let friends know that we have been awarded a new grant dedicated to child-centered practices in worship. The initiative is called “Roots & Wings” – Intergenerational Formation Collaborative. […]

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Thank you Adoremos team

We have an expectation of at least one act of corporate worship a day at VTS. My practice is to attend the 8.15am Eucharist. Every occasion is a gift – after all, we are worshiping God and gathering together. However, today, I do want to thank in particular the team responsible for the Bilingual Eucharist […]

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Hurricanes – those that have been and those yet to come

VTS has many friends in North Carolina. Indeed we have two members of the Board of Trustees who are trying to navigate the horrendous devastation of Helene. Literally, there are churches that have been swept away. The cathedral in Asheville will need extensive repair. For Bishop José McLoughlin, every day is navigating the destruction of […]

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Voting is open in Virginia

It was last week. I realized that I had the full hour for lunch. I said to Taryn, my chief of staff, “I am going to vote”. I voted in person. There was no line. I had already evaluated the options for president, senator, mayor, and counselors. I did my duty as a citizen of […]

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Network for Christian Formation Certificate Program

Since Forma, the Network for Christian Formation for the Episcopal Church, became part of Lifelong Learning and the larger VTS community, one of the many dreams has been to reimagine and relaunch the Forma Certificate program. With combined leadership from the Lifelong Learning department and the Forma Leadership Council, the Certificate in Lifelong Christian Formation […]

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Blessing of the Animals

Once again, we have the blessing of the animals. The Seminary will bless the animals at 5.15pm today, which will be followed by a community dinner. The service starts outside the chapel. Dogs need to be on a leash; cats in a carrier; and fish should be in water. We are even offering a “drive […]

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Welcome Bishop Emily Onyango

One of the privileges of being in a seminary community with a world-class theological library, comfortable guest housing, and a lively body of students and faculty, is that we are able to welcome visitors from across the Anglican Communion to spend their sabbatical with us. Our first sabbatical visitor this semester is the Rt. Rev. […]

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