Virginia Theological SeminaryLocation: Alexandria, VA
Mission Virginia Theological Seminary is a seminary of the Episcopal Church that has since 1823 served to further the universal mission of Christ’s church by providing graduate theological education and serving as a theological resource for the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion, and the wider church. In preparing its students as servants of Jesus Christ, as lay and ordained leaders of the church, the Seminary has placed theological education in the context of residential community marked by common life and worship. Seeking to equip the people of God for their vocation and ministry in the world, Virginia Theological Seminary has emphasized the preparation of persons for the ministries of preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and social justice. Born from the Anglican evangelical tradition, Virginia Theological Seminary has been formed by the diversity with Anglicanism, the larger ecumenical vision, and the increased understanding of the racial and cultural diversity of the needs and reality of the church in mission. With primary attention to the needs of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, the mission of Virginia Theological Seminary continues to be:
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SERVICE-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
Community Engagement Fellowships: created to support students who have capacities they seek to demonstrate with initiative, dedication, consistency, and leadership in theologically informed ministry projects that engage the seminary and the wider community around common purpose of community development and transformation. The projects may focus in areas of sustainability and environmental care, human care and thriving, social and economic justice, multicultural relationships, or other forms of community development.
Student fellows receive $2000 - $3500 per year in addition to their overall financial aid package for their work.
Student fellows receive $2000 - $3500 per year in addition to their overall financial aid package for their work.
DEGREE PROGRAMS INTEGRATING FAITH & SERVICE
Virginia Theological Seminary offers the following degrees. Click the title for more information about each program.
Master in Divinity
Master of Arts
Doctor of Ministry in Ministry Development
Doctor of Ministry in Educational Leadership
Doctor of Ministry in Christian Spirituality
Part Time Non-Degree Student
The Evening School
Master in Divinity
Master of Arts
Doctor of Ministry in Ministry Development
Doctor of Ministry in Educational Leadership
Doctor of Ministry in Christian Spirituality
Part Time Non-Degree Student
The Evening School
ENGAGEMENT ON CAMPUS
VOICE- Community organizing and advocacy
Since 2012, VTS has been a member organization of VOICE, the northern Virginia Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) affiliate for interfaith community organizing. Through VOICE, faculty, staff, and students connect more intentionally with different people accross Alexandria, Arlington, and northern VA to hear their concerns, passions, and interests for the common good, and to bring talent together to seek strategic solutions to local and regional social problems.
In the past, VOICE has involved students and faculty in door-knocking campaigns, one-on-one meetings, and house and church meetings with people whose neighborhoods are threatened by redevelopment and gentrification.
The Office of Multicultural Ministries celebrates the racial and ethnic diversity within the church and the world. There are 5 key dimensions of our work:
Since 2012, VTS has been a member organization of VOICE, the northern Virginia Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) affiliate for interfaith community organizing. Through VOICE, faculty, staff, and students connect more intentionally with different people accross Alexandria, Arlington, and northern VA to hear their concerns, passions, and interests for the common good, and to bring talent together to seek strategic solutions to local and regional social problems.
In the past, VOICE has involved students and faculty in door-knocking campaigns, one-on-one meetings, and house and church meetings with people whose neighborhoods are threatened by redevelopment and gentrification.
The Office of Multicultural Ministries celebrates the racial and ethnic diversity within the church and the world. There are 5 key dimensions of our work:
- Sharing the experiences of people of African, Asian, Indigenous, and Latina/o heritage;
- Supporting student activism and other efforts to resist racial domination;
- Recruiting students from under-represented backgrounds and finding candidates forBishop Payne Scholarships;
- Promoting anti-racism through classes and events; and
- Partnering with others to be sure diversity is reflected in our worship, pedagogy, and community life.
FIELD EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
The Church of the Epiphany in Washington, D.C. has a long history of engaging faith and justice issues. In addition to empowering primarily homeless men and women in DC through their Welcome Table, Street Church and Gospel Art ministries, Epiphany seeks to transform their lives by ending homelessness (Pathways to Housing program), providing employment assistance (Samaritan Ministry) and educating youth about the importance of service and advocacy (Youth Services Opportunities Project).
St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA. In 2008, the parish co-founded Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), a non-partisan, non-profit, multi-faith, multi-ethnic coalition of approximately 50 faith communities and civic organizations committed to empowering middle and low--income populations. Members of VOICE actively engage justice issues such as promoting access to affordable housing, health and dental care, as well as advocating for the rights of emigrants.
St. Mary's parishioners also devote time, energy, skills, and financial resources to their ministry partners, including:
Becoming Church is committed to dismantling mass incarceration as well as assisting men and women to rebuild their lives after incarceration. In addition to being a member of the Church of Our Savior, a constellation of small faith communities, Becoming Church has two teaching congregations: Newborn Church and Church of Christ, Right Now.
St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA. In 2008, the parish co-founded Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), a non-partisan, non-profit, multi-faith, multi-ethnic coalition of approximately 50 faith communities and civic organizations committed to empowering middle and low--income populations. Members of VOICE actively engage justice issues such as promoting access to affordable housing, health and dental care, as well as advocating for the rights of emigrants.
St. Mary's parishioners also devote time, energy, skills, and financial resources to their ministry partners, including:
- The Arlington Food Assistance Center
- The Arlington Pediatric Center
- Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing
- Friends of Guest House
- L'Arche
- Rebuilding Together
- Carpenter's Kids
- Offender Aid and Restoration
Becoming Church is committed to dismantling mass incarceration as well as assisting men and women to rebuild their lives after incarceration. In addition to being a member of the Church of Our Savior, a constellation of small faith communities, Becoming Church has two teaching congregations: Newborn Church and Church of Christ, Right Now.
ISSUE INTEGRATED ACADEMIC COURSES
Religious and cultural pluralism receives a lot of attention in the Seminary's curriculum, including courses like :
Courses in mission, evangelism, public Christian faith, and formation that engage issues of neighborhood change (gentirfication, poverty, diversity of subcultures) include:
There are courses specifically aimed at increasing student proficiency in Spanish for worship leadership, conversation, and preaching. These include a language immersion program in the Dominican Republic, courses on the Liturgy in Spanish and the Bible in Spanish, and The Context of Latin American Theology.
International immersion courses to Jerusalem, Myanmar, Turkey, Italy, and other locations also involve intensive work integrating current social issues of particular contexts with theological study.
- Exploring Islam,
- Pastoral Care in Interfaith Settings,
- Introduction to Judaism and Midrash,
- Theologies of Religious Pluralism,
- Comparative Theology in a Christian Context,
- Religious Diversity in Schools and Organizations,
- Spirituality and Healthcare.
Courses in mission, evangelism, public Christian faith, and formation that engage issues of neighborhood change (gentirfication, poverty, diversity of subcultures) include:
- Evangelism
- Public Witness and New Faith Communities
- Theological Reflection on Missional Communities
- Christian Social Ministry
- Social Chaplaincy
- Digital Media for Ministry
- Advanced issues in Leadership
- Race in America
There are courses specifically aimed at increasing student proficiency in Spanish for worship leadership, conversation, and preaching. These include a language immersion program in the Dominican Republic, courses on the Liturgy in Spanish and the Bible in Spanish, and The Context of Latin American Theology.
International immersion courses to Jerusalem, Myanmar, Turkey, Italy, and other locations also involve intensive work integrating current social issues of particular contexts with theological study.
ALUMNI PROFILES
Rev. Chip Graves (VTS '07, Dmin '12)
Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Huntington, WV
Chip is a passionate advocate for and practitioner of Metro Theology as it has manifested in and through his church and city. As a second-career priest with an MBA in international business, Graves' depth of business management experience uniquely enables him to see possibilities for serving God's people in existing resources, including his parish. Chip created the name Metro Theology, which encompassed ministry in which the parish was already engaged, and Chip views as an "extrapolation of asset based community development used to engage local challenges."
Through Chip's leadership, Trinity has become a church without walls, inviting all to get involved in outreach. Some of the ripple effect results include doubling the church in size and a 40% increase in pledges. These were not the reason for creating Metro Theology, however. The true and inherent gifts of Metro Theology is its contextual nature - the gifts and assets of churches and communities in which it evolves are unique.
Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Huntington, WV
Chip is a passionate advocate for and practitioner of Metro Theology as it has manifested in and through his church and city. As a second-career priest with an MBA in international business, Graves' depth of business management experience uniquely enables him to see possibilities for serving God's people in existing resources, including his parish. Chip created the name Metro Theology, which encompassed ministry in which the parish was already engaged, and Chip views as an "extrapolation of asset based community development used to engage local challenges."
Through Chip's leadership, Trinity has become a church without walls, inviting all to get involved in outreach. Some of the ripple effect results include doubling the church in size and a 40% increase in pledges. These were not the reason for creating Metro Theology, however. The true and inherent gifts of Metro Theology is its contextual nature - the gifts and assets of churches and communities in which it evolves are unique.
Life in Alexandria, VA |