Date: April 21, 2023
Last night, Bishop Poggo participated in our Thursday night Eucharist. The choir was extraordinary; the music for the Eucharist was our own Bicentennial music written by the Rev. Dr. Bill Roberts. And the preacher was Bishop Poggo. The theme was “testimony”. We need to be ready to share our sense of God with others; and no, it is not acceptable to tell everyone that a “rat ate our testimony.”
Bishop Poggo has to navigate the complexity of the communion with every visit. Some Anglicans in other provinces would strongly disapprove of his presence here at VTS. Their theological convictions make fellowship with the Episcopal Church difficult. But Bishop Poggo is committed to the conversation. So, he made the journey; he was pleased to be our guest.
I am deeply grateful to the CACS team. Ms. Hartley Wensing handles the details of such events so exceptionally well and puts in the many hours to make it happen; and the Rev. Dr. Kathy Grieb has the connections and vision to issue the invitation to the Secretary General. It was a success. At moments like this, bridges are being built.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and President of The General Theological Seminary