In 2021, VTS received a $1M grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., to study models of mutual ministry currently operating across the wider Church and to discern how our Seminary curriculum might best prepare seminarians for these contemporary realities in the Episcopal Church. VTS is uniquely positioned to engage on-the-ground research as we are well-connected […]
The ministry of Forma is to celebrate, equip, support, and connect leaders who form followers of Jesus. We live into this ministry in a variety of ways: from online cohort gatherings of formation professionals across the church to advocacy for formation ministry at General Convention. Two of our major initiatives include the Certificate in Lifelong […]
Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative is a grant in the Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children in Worship & Prayer initiative. We began our work this spring with a review of the current literature around children’s spirituality and intergenerational ministry. Our team found, among other things, that there is a wealth of resources in both areas, […]
Behind every great leader is a great mentor. In previous eras of the Church, mentoring was an implied norm within both lay and clerical leadership models. After seminary, many priests received invaluable formation as curates, guided by seasoned clergy. Lay leaders often spent years—sometimes a generation—serving in supporting roles before stepping into key leadership positions. […]
Responding to God’s love. Finding meaning and fulfillment. Utilizing one’s unique gifts to meet the needs of the world—everyone baptized is called to enter a lifelong conversation with God about our ministry to the people and world around us. In the Department of Lifelong Learning, we describe this ongoing conversation as “activating baptism.” Our department’s […]
In the winter of 2025, Beth Lewis, the Bishop Payne Library’s Rare Book Conservator, was given a small book to repair. As she was assessing the issues with the book–detached cover, detached spine, and loose text block–she noticed the book was handwritten on skin parchment and in medieval Latin. Recognizing there was something extremely special […]
He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses that the Lord the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him. ~ Ezra 7:6 (NRSVue) Archiving is not merely about preserving dusty old documents to meet legal […]
That’s right! The library is for you. For students and faculty, we offer an inviting context for theological exploration. Our collection, both digital and print, contains over a million expertly curated resources, and empowers users to engage with the church’s heritage and contemporary witness. In partnership with our main vendors, we have just released a […]
It gives me great joy to introduce the Bishop Payne Library’s newest staff members, Bianca C. Farmer and Jenna Patterson! Jenna Patterson, JD, MLIS is the new Discovery and Technology Services Librarian, providing oversight of all of the library’s electronic and technical services. She earned a B.S. from New College at the University of Alabama […]
I love being the Seminary Librarian for many reasons. Serving as the chief curator of the rich theological perspectives expressed in the Bishop Payne Library’s wide variety of resources –from several papyrus fragments to circulating print books (approx. 200,000) to archival holdings (approx. 4000 linear feet) to rare books (approx. 16,000) to electronic books (approx. […]