Date: June 13, 2023
When one is preparing for their seminary journey, spiritual formation and excelling at one’s academic work are top priorities for the incoming seminarian. They leave the comforts of their homes, their sponsoring parishes, and their dioceses and make a new home at VTS with the commitment to do very well in these endeavors. But during these one, two or three years a third thing organically happens and that is the gift of relationships. VTS offers each seminarian not just an opportunity to meet new classmates and acquaintances, VTS offers each student the opportunity to build deep and lasting relationships that are both domestic and global.
The benefits of these relationships are many. For example, they destroy the negative stereotype given to God’s children via the media or passed down through age old folklore rooted in the sins of racism, sexism, and classism. Best of all these relationships contribute to our own growth and development, as well as our spiritual formation and academic work.
I am grateful for the relationships I built at VTS and it continues to be my joy to see my siblings serve the Church and the world! And while it has been some years since we struggled our way out of Aspinwall Hall with our books each day, the bonds of affection are timeless and will never dissipate!
The Rev. Theodora (Teddy) Brooks ‘92
AAEC Member
Vicar, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Bronx, NY