Date: September 2, 2025
Welcome back to the VTS community as we begin a new academic year. The campus is alive again with familiar faces and new arrivals, filled with energy and anticipation. This is a time of renewal as classrooms open, conversations deepen, and the work of formation continues.
As we settle in, let us honor the different stages of our journey. Juniors are easing into seminary life after orientation; Middlers return with the insight and resilience gained through Clinical Pastoral Education; and Seniors look ahead, discerning the paths their bishops may open. Each brings unique gifts and challenges, enriching our shared life together.
It is also a joy to see our hardworking staff, whose dedication sustains this community. We hope many found time for rest before the semester began. As we step forward, let us pray for openness to God’s presence, asking for growth in our relationship with the source of Love, who draws us ever deeper into truth and joy.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary