Date: August 23, 2024
I applied to VTS after meeting Dr. Lisa Kimball at a Christian formation conference. As the only Master of Theology student who didn't seek to become a priest, I felt decidedly out of place when I arrived. But as I sat in front of a roaring fire in Scott Lounge in early December, my classmate Maurice Dyer and I passionately recounted the story of St. Nicholas. People of all ages sipped hot chocolate and shared chocolate coins. And I felt a warmth of belonging.
That evening with St. Nicholas was planned by the Lifelong Learning Department. Our department's work is deep and wide-ranging, from directing devotional plays at Butterfly House to mentoring clergy, mutual service, nurturing children and families within our preschool, to managing multiple multi-million dollar grants related to strengthening preaching throughout the church. But Christian formation is at the heart of our work.
Since becoming a member of the Continuing Learning team (first as a work student and then as staff), supporting VTS students and alumni has been a highlight of my job. Here are some examples of the ongoing efforts we make to help church leaders develop faithful disciples.
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As we begin a new academic year at Virginia Theological Seminary, our team is excited to connect with, learn from, and support as many church leaders as possible. We are pleased to share some of our efforts with you this week through Dean’s Commentary. Stay connected with us and keep up to date on all our activities by signing up for our monthly News and Notes.
Sarah Bentley Allred
Senior Formation Associate and Coordinator at Forma Evangelism
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