I think it was the first time. I have been in situations where an audience gives an individual speaker a standing ovation. But I don’t think I have ever seen it happen with a panel and a speaker. But last night, in the Lettie Pate Evans Auditorium, we saw an extraordinary occasion unfold. Bishop Anthony […]
As we say goodbye to Canon Scott Cowdell and his wife Lisa, we welcome four more Dean Scholars who will be with us till the end of the semester: Canon Dr. Sanjee Perera, Rev. Canon Bruce Kinsey, The Rev. Dr. William Wright, and The Venerable Dr. Alex Hughes. As always, our scholars bring an incredible […]
This week, VTS is privileged to welcome the Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion to our campus to give the 2023 Albert T. Mollegen Forum address. Martha Jarvis, Anglican Communion Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Caroline Thompson, Private Secretary for the Office of the Secretary General, are also visiting […]
Formation at VTS needs many avenues. One of them is the contextual ministry site. It is here that one focuses on the craft of ministry. How exactly does one grow? How exactly does one bring the word of God to a group of people in their particular time and place? When I speak to alumni […]
The academic journey is always arduous. Classes must be taken; course work needs to be completed; any and the hard task for achievement can, at times, be a never-ending journey. When it comes to one’s doctoral studies, a significant milestone is the moment when you have passed all the required examinations to then move to […]
From time to time, there is an article that I read that I feel is so utterly wise. It was from the Subscriber Only Well Newsletter. It was called “Helped, Heard, or Hugged? When someone you love is upset, ask this one question”. It was a fabulous article. Sometimes in a community, two people meet […]
It is a major theme of our current strategic plan. We need more art on this campus. I have spent much of my professional career believing that persons can be “argued” into faith. Now I tend to think that “experience” or “feel” is the central step in moving from skepticism to faith. So, we come […]
The weather is stunning (although a tad chilly); greenery is everywhere; and Jesus is alive. We start the Easter season. It is a joy to welcome every reader into this season. Today we have a Board committee retreat. From time to time, the complexities of the work of certain committees are such that we need […]
The Seminary closes for Good Friday through to Easter Monday. We pause. We mark the momentous significance of this day. Central to the Christian message is that God was in Christ hanging upon a cross. We should see in this moment God’s identification with all those who suffer. In the face of the tortured Christ, […]
I must admit I did enjoy Christopher Poore’s sermon on Monday. And as I was reflecting on the sermon, I did find myself impressed by many of the senior sermons. There is something special about standing in an Ambo from which the Archbishop of Canterbury (both Archbishop Justin and Lord Williams) and several Presiding Bishops […]