Evening Prayer was lovely last night. We had the Bishop of Nevada, the Rt. Rev. Elizabeth Bonforte Gardner, with us; she just happened to be on retreat with her CREDO group; and the group joined us for Evening Prayer. Then we made our way to the President’s Apartment for a reception. Students and Faculty gathered. We took the time to review the program. What can we improve? How do you feel about the degree? The feedback was instructive. There was considerable appreciation for the program; they would love to be able to preach in front of each other at these residential weeks; and they would love a light breakfast to be provided and more information in advance.

We are pleased to receive this feedback. Once again, I loved the conversations I had with the students. In every case, there is a depth to their narrative and journey. This was the program that opened doors and enabled them to follow their call.

As the first year comes to an end, I appreciated the depth of the class. These students are being formed. They are learning how to say the office; they are learning to appreciate the enigmatic Gospel of Mark; and perhaps most important, they are learning how to be friends with each other.

The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and President of The General Theological Seminary