Date: August 13, 2024
This week, members of Student Government have been asked to write the Dean’s Commentary. As the Student Body Chaplain, I have the privilege and honor of being able to focus on the spiritual life on campus.
For new students and returning students alike, I recommend taking full advantage of the spiritual resources available to you here at VTS.
Make worship in the chapel a regular part of your life at VTS. Remember that the requirement to attend one chapel service each day is not a maximum. I’ve had my own seasons of heavier and lighter engagement with chapel services, and I could feel the difference in my relationship with God and others.
Keep an open mind about the diversity of styles, perspectives, and approaches to our common faith and common prayer that you will encounter there. All of the different worship teams and different preachers have something to teach us and regularly encountering God with them in the ministry they model can and will help to shape your own ministry and spirituality.
The seminary provides Spiritual Directors for students as well. Incoming students will have an introduction to this program during August Term, but returning students can also connect with partnering Spiritual Directors at no cost to them.
Another important resource are the Class Chaplains and Student Body Chaplain. Each returning class and the MA student group has elected Chaplains that are available for conversation, prayer, spiritual support, and even connecting students in need with material support if they’re struggling with, for example, food insecurity over breaks when dining services are closed. As the Student Body Chaplain, I am also available for these things to anyone from any class or group as well.
The Junior Class will elect their own Class Chaplains in a few weeks. In the meantime, the returning Chaplains have agreed to step up and serve as Chaplains to the incoming students. In fact, I’m about to announce a series of open Chaplain office hours and a Chaplain request form to provide a way for incoming and returning students to more easily get the support they need.
My last advice, especially for the incoming students, is that the VTS community itself is an incredible spiritual resource. VTS is at its best when we are all empowered and emboldened to offer our own gifts. I pray we all will take hopeful risks in the assumption that our gifts are desired and valued here, because they are. In addition to your gifts, your vulnerabilities, needs, and all the rest of your humanity is treasured here too. That’s what the Gospel demands of us in how we view and treat each other. Don’t ever struggle alone. Ask for help. Ask for prayer. Offer help. Offer prayer. Avoid the temptation to compare yourself with others. Prepare to be profoundly challenged at times in seminary and to be blessed and loved and affirmed. Invite others at VTS into both your joy and your struggles, especially because we’re all in seminary too and you’re almost never the only one feeling the way that you feel.
Welcome, incoming students, and may your time at VTS in its glory and in its messiness be blessed and fruitful and filled with the work of the Spirit!
Greg Williams
Student Body Chaplain