This has been an eventful week. I spent most of the week in Austin, Texas. We had two days exploring the challenges of theological education in the Episcopal Church. It is a complicated picture. We have eight or so Episcopal seminaries; there are probably forty or so non-Episcopal universities or seminaries training future priests in […]
I am looking forward to returning to Alexandria. We are delighted that the VTS campus is hosting the GTS students this January. This is one of the joys of the affiliation. There are resources available to enhance the student experience. It is lovely to have the students from the GTS hybrid degree enjoying the campus. […]
I am not sure if anyone knows. But the next time you are walking past the new Welcome Center, do please look up. The Board of Trustees did not let us “value engineer” out the solar panels. So, there they are. The first building on the campus to lock in the power of the sun […]
It is a joy to be here in Austin Texas. Once a year all the Deans of the Episcopal seminaries gather. It is an opportunity to reflect on the state of theological education, to share trends in our respective institutions, and to enjoy some fellowship together. This year, the agenda is supplemented by the presence […]
Our fundamentalist friends have shown us the way. If you want to impact culture, then you release a movie. Back in 2014, God’s Not Dead was made: a $2 million budget and it grossed over $62 million. A key theme was the academy is anti-God; Christians have a hard time at university. It was a […]
Today I am pleased to celebrate another book published out of VTS Press. The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson Jr., was asked to deliver the 177th Commencement Address at Nashotah House. When he sent me a copy of the text, I was impressed. Here is the Rector of the largest Episcopal Church in the United […]
A key part of our Historic Bicentenary preparations was the commissioning of a play called Dust by the international award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Non Vaughan-O’Hagan. It was performed to full houses over the course of a week in October 2022. Telling a story about the past that includes both sin and grace, flaws and faithfulness is hard. […]
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. Â The Seminary reopens on Tuesday January 2. The commentary will restart on that day. 2023 will be remembered as a special year. It […]