It was a lovely moment. I was coming out of the pew at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Old Town Alexandria on the New Year’s Eve service, when I was stopped by Ms. Barbara Warder, the Treasurer for the fundraising arm of St. George’s College, Jerusalem. “Thank you” she said, “the gifts from your appeal […]
2024 has arrived. I pray, trust, and hope that the pause over Christmas and the New Year has been gift to us all. For our seniors, many of whom are taking the General Ordination Exams, this has not been a relaxing pause. Inevitably, these are the “professional examinations” that clergy are required to take. As […]
Today, we close the Seminary after the Holiday Party at the St. Martin’s Deanery. All the staff and the faculty are invited to the Deanery to share the final lunch for 2023. The Seminary reopens on Tuesday January 2. The commentary will restart on that day. 2023 will be remembered as a special year. It […]
Last night I was at The General Theological Seminary. It was an opportunity to participate in an important moment for the affiliation. Our sister seminary was having its own 200 year anniversary. The person who donated the land for the Seminary, and then served as a professor for several years, was also the poet behind […]
My wife and I at the end of the semester host the “Senior Tea”. This is a decades old practice where Deans have had a moment to prepare seniors for their last semester at Seminary. We reflect with the seniors on what really matters. I think perhaps I am the first Dean to discover that […]
The Chapel was full. The Refectory looked stunning. The music was sublime. The occasion was special. Last night, we had Lessons and Carols and the conferral of the Dean’s Cross on Ms. Ellen Hawkins. So many people worked so hard. The Rev. Dr. Shawn Strout and Dr. Marty Burnett were responsible for the service; it […]
This weekend is a special weekend. On Sunday, we will have the traditional Lessons and Carols and the conferral of the Dean’s Cross on Ms. Ellen Hawkins. We are anticipating many guests on the campus. The music will be sublime; the story of salvation history from Scripture will be moving; and the conferral of the […]
Yesterday was the last service of the semester. It was a Wednesday community Eucharist. And our two professors of liturgy were prominent in the service. The Rev. Dr. Shawn Strout preached a thoughtful sermon about “pondering” and “living with the unknowable questions” in a place of thoughtful deliberation before God. And then the Rev. Dr. […]
Sometimes the life of the professor can look very easy. Teaching some classes and writing some books are the most visible outcomes of a professor’s work life. However, in truth, professors are a little like icebergs. There is more going on under the surface than others realize. Please allow me to use myself as an […]
Yesterday was an all-day Faculty meeting. The conversation was serious and thoughtful. Significant disagreements were aired. Different faculty took different positions. But all accepted the results of a vote. It was a good working Faculty meeting. At 4.30pm, we gathered in Scott Lounge. Led by our director of research, Dr. John Knight, we were recognizing […]