Date: August 4, 2025
Responding to God’s love. Finding meaning and fulfillment. Utilizing one’s unique gifts to meet the needs of the world—everyone baptized is called to enter a 
lifelong conversation with God about our ministry to the people and world around us. In the Department of Lifelong Learning, we describe this ongoing conversation as “activating baptism.” Our department’s mission to “connect, nurture, and highlight communities of faithful practice” reflects our commitment to nurturing this lifelong relationship with God through offerings that inspire formation, provide education, and spark curiosity. We believe in the power of education, formation, and community to affect the world around us.
Our team is led by Dr. Lisa Kimball, Vice President for Lifelong Learning and the James Maxwell Professor of Lifelong Christian Formation and includes team members located from Virginia to Hawai’i. In addition to programming offered directly through Lifelong Learning, we also support and frequently collaborate with Forma: The Network for Christian Formation, the online publication Building Faith, and the mentoring program Launching into Ministry. Two years ago we facilitated the debut of the Certificate for Lifelong Christian Formation, a joint offering of Forma and Virginia Theological Seminary.
Lifelong Learning is home to five grant initiatives: Mutual Ministry Initiative, Faith-filled Families, Thriving in Ministry, Preaching Congregations Initiative, and the Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative, each funded by Lily Endowment, Inc. The TryTank Research Institute keeps the department looking toward the future through research around Latino ministries, Gen-Z faith development, and the intersection between faith and AI.
This week, we’ll share stories from our department. You will hear about the role of mentoring from our colleagues in Launching into Ministry and Thriving in Ministry, intergenerational worship from the leaders of Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative, how Forma supports those working in formation ministries, and the new ways to minister together from the Mutual Ministry Initiative. By the end of the week, we hope you will have discovered how Lifelong Learning walks alongside you during your formation and vocational development.
Wallace Benton
Associate Director of Lifelong Learning