This week marked the start of my second week in residence with our GTS hybrid MDiv students during their January term intensives on the campus of (the still snowy!) Virginia Theological Seminary. During the week, students are learning from Dr. Ruthanna Hooke in a much-anticipated preaching course. As a way of integrating the classroom and chapel, students have been assigned preaching roles at each of our thrice-daily services (Morning Prayer, Eucharist, and Evening Prayer).

From the outset, I have been struck by the level of poise and confidence that these students exude from behind the pulpit! Even though they are only in their second year of the hybrid MDiv program, it is clear that the contextual learning program is already forming them as future priests and deacons.

What really left an impression on me (and the rest of the assembly gathered for worship, if their vigorous nods were any indicator), was a sermon delivered this morning by Cohort 1 student Emily Rutledge. Emily preached on the story from John 5 of Jesus healing the long-suffering man by the pool of Beth-zatha. She focused on the theme of ‘taking up our mats’ and walking, and likened the man's bold step of faith in the story to the bold steps of faith that she and each of her fellow hybrid MDiv students took as they answered the call to seminary.

She reflected on how, for so many of them, seminary was once a distant dream. They had long sensed a call to ordained ministry but felt called to continue to serve where they were. Many of them are involved in the holy work of caretaking for elderly parents or children, committed to ministry in their home dioceses, and called to remain in careers from which they will serve as multi-vocational priests in the future. In saying "yes" to seminary, they were taking up their mats and walking in faith, where Christ had already called, to places where Christ was calling them in the future.

She also remarked on the bold step of faith that General Seminary took as we said "yes" to the Spirit prompting our faculty to develop this hybrid program and discover anew how to fulfill our 200-year mission of educating and forming leaders for the Church in a changing world.

In that chapel this morning, we felt the Spirit moving among us, stirring tears of gratitude for the work that God is doing in God’s church.

Dean Michael