Date: December 12, 2023
Yesterday was an all-day Faculty meeting. The conversation was serious and thoughtful. Significant disagreements were aired. Different faculty took different positions. But all accepted the results of a vote. It was a good working Faculty meeting.
At 4.30pm, we gathered in Scott Lounge. Led by our director of research, Dr. John Knight, we were recognizing books, compositions, or grants written or edited by Faculty. In 2022, we had nine publications. This time, we had eleven – excluding the grant success. Each author or editor or composer or grant writer spoke about their particular items. Everything from music being sung in congregations, to million dollar-plus grants, to scholarly contributions to the guild to books for lay Christians, and beyond were recognized.
I must admit this was a lovely and special moment for me. Each item recognized was hours upon hours of labor. A significant investment of institutional time was captured on the table in Scott Lounge. My Faculty friends are making a difference. The Church is stronger because of this work. I am grateful to them all.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary