Today, the GTS Faculty will meet. On Sunday night, the VTS Faculty will start their two day retreat. It will be an important opportunity to reflect on the work that Faculty are called to do. How do we create programs that enable the Church to get stronger and more connected?

In terms of governance, the Faculty Meeting is sovereign in respect to programs. These are the people with doctorates and years of teaching experience that can shape the appropriate programs that can form capable students ready to serve the Gospel and the Church. Naturally, the Board needs to approve new program initiatives. All such initiatives go to the Academic Affairs Committee, which has an expertise in academic programming. The Academic Affairs Committee on behalf of the Board will ask questions, offer advice, and could, in exceptional circumstances, send something back for further consideration. But everyone understands that it is not the Board's work to instigate academic programming. This is the reason why the Board appoints a strong group of people with academic credentials to think about how best to shape an education for students.

I am grateful for these meetings of the Faculty. Please remember the Faculty of these two institutions in your prayers as they meet.

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