News from the Hill

VIRGINIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Alexandria, VA Fall 2009

4.
Anglican
5.
Welcome
11.
New Major
Endeavors: Lisa Gifts
Tanzania Kimball Leader
Message from the Dean

Poised for Success: A New Semester Begins

The news from the “other”
Hill (Capitol Hill) has been stormy.
The summer has been dominated
by the arguments over healthcare
reform. The news from this Hill The Black Presence of Virginia Theological
(the Holy Hill) has been calm. The
summer has been dominated by
a continuing changing campus, a
strong set of programs in the DMin
and MA in Christian Education, and
preparation for the new intake of
Juniors.
I am pleased to welcome Dr. Lisa
Kimbell to the campus as our new
Director of the Center for the Minis-
try of Teaching, and the Rev. Charles
Fischer III who is serving as our
Director of Alumni, Annual Fund,
and Church Relations.
I am deeply grateful to God for so
many positive indicators around the
Seminary. Just to highlight a few:
recently my wife and I entertained
the MA in Christian Education
alums to a Sunday Brunch in the
Deanery, which was followed by a
Holy Eucharist. The energy in the
room was palpable; here were gifted
Christian educators making a differ-
ence to the Church. The dinner at
General Convention was a delight, and As you read this News from the Hill,
it was the perfect venue to honor the please take a moment to pray for the
hard work of the Rev. Joseph Constant Seminary. Please pray that we might
and launch his book No Turning Back: be faithful and thoughtful. And take
a moment to thank God for the work
Seminary, a pioneering study of the that God is performing in this place.
African American experience at
Virginia Theological Seminary. Our Yours in Christ,
Juniors are enjoying August term and
are filling the campus with laughter
and energy. We are truly a national
and international Seminary – as stu-
dents from around the United States
and the Anglican Communion come
here to study.
This is going to be an interesting fall.
Our graduates from last June will be
the first class on the “Second Three
Years” program; together they will
start work on the challenge of succeed-
ing in ministry. We have our Alumni/
ae Convocation – an opportunity
to relate Christian Education in our
diverse world. At the Convention, we
will be launching our new audio tour.
This is an historic campus, which has
played an important role in the life of
America. This audio tour will enable
us to widen our group of friends and
connect with those who are interested
in understanding the past.

Virginia Theological Seminary The Rev. Thomas A. Lacy II (2011)

OFFICERS
The Rt. Rev. James J. Shand
Chairman of the Board
Ms. Sissy Poland
Vice Chairman of the Board
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President
Dr. Timothy F. Sedgwick
Vice President
The Rev. Dr. J. Barney Hawkins IV
Vice President
Ms. Heather Zdancewicz
Vice President, Assistant Treasurer &
Assistant Secretary
Dr. David H. Charlton
Secretary/Treasurer
On the Cover: Graduates from the
Class of 2009 lining up for the
commencement procession.
Photo by Alix Dorr.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Rt. Rev. James J. Shand
Mrs. Auguste J. Bannard (2011)
Mr. David Booth Beers (2010)
Ms. Ana-Mita Betancourt (2010)
Mr. Julian M. Bivins, Jr. (2012)
The Rev. Catherine M. Campbell (2014)
The Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane
Dr. David H. Charlton (2011)
The Rev. Canon Thomas G. Clarke (2012)
The Rev. Dr. Harold J. Cobb, Jr. (2013)
The Rev. Carlotta A. Cochran (2014)
The Rev. Dr. Robert S. Dannals (2010)
Dr. Lynwood D. I. Day (2013)
Mr. W. Carter Doswell (2013)
Mr. A. Hugh Ewing III (2013)
The Rev. Dr. M. Douglas Girardeau (2010)
Mrs. Martha W. High (2014)
The Rt. Rev. Herman Hollerith IV
Ms. Elizabeth Cabell Jennings (2014)
The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston
The Rev. R. Kevin Kelly (2013)
The Rt. Rev. William (Mike) Michie Klusmeyer
The Rev. Thomas M. Kryder-Reid (2012)
Ms. Angelica D. Light (2012)
Mr. James R. Lowe, Jr. (2013)
The Rev. Dr. Andrew J. MacBeth (2012)
Mr. M. Lee Marston (2014)
Mrs. Sissy Poland (2012)
The Rt. Rev. F. Neff Powell
The Rev. Dr. Allen F. Robinson (2010)
The Rev. Dr. Stanley W. Sawyer (2014)
The Rev. Dr. William R. Shiflet, Jr. (2013)
The Rt. Rev. Eugene T. Sutton
Dr. William G. Thomas III (2010)
The Rev. Christine R. Whittaker (2013)
The Rev. J. Douglas Wigner, Jr. (2014)
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
The Rev. Charles L Fischer III
The Rev. C. Neal Goldsborough
FACULTY REPRESENTATIVES
Dr. Mitzi J. Budde
The Rev. Robert W. Prichard, Ph.D.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
The Rev. Matthew R. Hanisian (‘10)
Student Body President

2 News from the Hill · Fall 2009

Virginia Seminary Students
Receive Prestigious National
Fellowships
Two VTS students
have been awarded
fellowships from The
Fund for Theological
Education (FTE), a
national, ecumenical
advocate for excel-
lence in pastoral
ministry and theological scholarship
that awards $1.5 million in fellowships
annually.
Middler, Timothy C. Baer (MDiv,
Diocese of Oklahoma), was awarded
$10,000 for educational expenses
and to fund a self-designed project
to enrich his formation as a ministe-
rial leader. Junior, Audrey O’Brien
(MDiv, Diocese of Massachusetts),
will receive a $2,000 – $5,000 Congre-
gational Fellowship, which matches
support from her nominating congre-
gation, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in
Natick, Massachusetts. Both students
were recognized as young leaders
who demonstrate exceptional gifts for
ministry.
Ian Markham Releases Third
Edition of World Religions
Reader
A third edition of the popular A
World Religions Reader, edited by Dean
Markham and Christy Lohr, associate
editor of Hartford Seminary’s Reviews
in Religion &
Theology, has been
released by Wiley-
Blackwell.
This latest
edition of the
Reader has been
revised and
update to
reflect the vi-
brant role re-
ligion plays
in the twenty-first
century and includes new chap-
ters on Indigenous Religions, Jainism,
Zoroastrianism, and Emerging Reli-
gions. The Reader can be purchased at
the Cokesbury bookstore on campus.
On the Holy Hill
Archbishop of Canterbury
Appoints Dr. Grieb to Anglican
Commission on Unity, Faith
and Order
The Rev. A. Kath-
erine Grieb, Ph.D.,
professor of New
Testament, has
been appointed to
the Inter-Anglican
Standing Commis-
sion for Unity, Faith
and Order (IAS-
CUFO), a new commission established
by the Archbishop of Canterbury and
the Secretary General of the Angli-
can Communion following extensive
consultation with the Provinces of the
Communion around the world.
Beginning in 2009, the Commission,
which will be chaired by the Most
Rev. Bernard Ntahoturi, primate of
the Anglican Church of Burundi, will
oversee the ecumenical life of the An-
glican Communion, and will promote
the deepening of communion between
the Anglican Communion and other
Christian Churches and traditions.
The Commission will also advise the
Provinces, the Primates, the Anglican
Consultative Council, and the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury on all questions
of ecumenical engagement as well as
on questions of Anglican Faith and
Order.
Welcome Class of 2012!
The August term at Virginia Seminary
began with 59 incoming students from
26 domestic dioceses, eight domestic
provinces, and four countries includ-
ing Haiti, the Philippines, Israel, and
South Africa.
Twenty percent of the Class of 2012
falls into the minority category, fulfill-
ing one of the Seminary’s goals to be a
racially and ethnically diverse com-
munity.
Sixty-one percent of the entering
students this year are working toward
the Master of Divinity degree (MDiv),
while the remaining 39% are work-
ing toward a Master in Theological
Studies (MTS), a Master of Arts in
Christian Education (MACE), a Master
of Arts in Christian Education/Youth
Ministry (MACEYM), or are enrolled
in the Anglican Studies program.
The median age of all students enter-
ing in the fall is 36.5 (33 for MDiv);
58% are women, 42% are men; 58% of
entering students are married/part-
nered, 42% are single. Fifty-four per-
cent of the incoming MDiv students
are in their 20’s and 30’s; 33% in their
50’s and 60’s.
Pictured left to right: Entering
students, Carrie English, Matthew
Wright, and Mary Mackin (MDiv).
News from the Hill · Fall 2009 3
 Center for Anglican Communion Studies
I
n his trip to Tanzania
this past June, Dean
Markham had the honor
of giving the commence-
ment address at the Msa-
lato Theological College in
Dodoma, Tanzania. Thanks
to the organizational skills
of VTS alum the Rev.
Sandra McCann (‘03), the
Dean was also able to give
a five-session presentation
at the College’s first annual
theological conference.
“The Church is
growing in Tanzania
because of the love
and dedication of
so many individuals
willing to sacrifice
so much for the
glory of God”
Josiah Rengers ‘11
Assisting Markham in the
conference entitled anyika in a rural parish,
“Engaging the Muslim and
African Traditionalist”, was
the Rev. Hilda Kabia who
presented the local attitudes
and issues of the Muslims
in central Tanzania, and the
Rev. Canon Moses Matonya,
principal and lecturer in
New Testament and
Mission at Msalato, who
offered insight on African
Traditional Religions.
VTS’ relationship with
Tanzania also extends to the
village of Mgunga, where
4 News from the Hill · Fall 2009
Anglican Endeavours:
Tanzania
VTS has adopted 50 chil-
dren through a diocesan
project called Carpenter’s
Kids. Through the program,
VTS will supply the chil-
dren with school uniforms
and daily lunch for the next
five years. Following a visit
to see the Carpenter’s Kids,
Markham was made Honor-
ary Chief of Mgunga and
was offered several gifts,
including a goat.
Paralleling Markham’s
visit to Tanzania, was a VTS
immersion trip led by Dr.
Jacques Hadler, director of
Field Education. Participat-
ing in the month-long trip
were Leslie Steffensen,
coordinator for VTS’ Center
for Anglican Communion
Studies, who taught Chil-
dren’s Ministry; Josiah
Rengers, a middler from the
Diocese of West Virginia,
and Meredith Holt, a senior
from the Diocese of Texas.
Josiah, who worked in the
Diocese of Central Tang-
shadowed the parish priest
for two weeks
learning
about the
struggles
and joys of
life there.
The villagers
welcomed
Josiah with
singing,
dancing, and
uulations.
Wrote Josiah
about his trip, “By coinci-
dence the Diocese of West
Virginia, my home diocese,
and the Diocese of Central
Tanganyika developed
a relationship between
bishops some years ago.
Not only was that relation-
ship remembered by many
priests in Tanzania, I was
also shown many pictures
of a former West Virginia
Bishop visiting Tanzania,
and a Tanzanian Bishop
visiting West Virginia. and the perseverance of
That helped highlight the
universal foundation of the
Anglican Communion that
stretches around the world,
and the value of developing
those relationships.”
Meredith taught a course
on Women in the Bible and
on Genesis at Msalato Theo-
logical College. During the
final weeks, Meredith ex-
plored the Anglican Church
in Coastal Tanzania and on
the Island of Zanzibar.
“Throughout my trip,”
wrote Meredith in the July
14 VTS Anglican Commen-
tary, “I was struck most
profoundly by the vitality
and strength of theologi-
cal formation in Dodoma,
the radical building of the
church in Dar es Salaam
the persecuted church in
Zanzibar.”
Pictured top left:
Josiah Rengers
contemplates his
visit to Central
Tanganyika.
Above: Meredith
Holt is greeted in
true Tanzania style. Left: Dean
Markham is made honorary
Chief of Mgunga.

What’s New?
The Prayer Book at 30
This month, the 1979 Book of
Common Prayer turns 30. In
acknowledgement of this an-
niversary, Virginia Seminary is
sponsoring a series of lectures
entitled The 1979 Book of Com-
mon Prayer Then/The 1979 Book
of Common Prayer Now: The Prayer Book at 30 which will
examine the expectations for, the experience in use of,
and the continuing explorations of the potentials of the
1979 Book of Common Prayer. The next lecture will take
place on:
Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 4:00 p.m.
“Non-Eucharistic Worship since 1979”
with guest speaker, Sister Jean Campbell
For more information, visit www.vts.edu.
Shakespeare Lecture -
October 14, 2009
Join VTS at the Shakespeare
Theatre Company in Washing-
ton for a pre-performance pre-
sentation by the Rev. Dr. Roger
Ferlo, VTS associate dean
and professor of Religion and
Culture, and Mr. Akiva Fox,
literary associate, Shakespeare
Theatre Company. The performance begins at 5:00 p.m.
Tickets to the pre-performance discussion and the perfor-
mance are available through the Shakespeare Theatre box
office at 202-5457-1122.
Fridays at the Seminary
- November 6, 2009
“Religion and the Young
Adult - A Different Way
of Believing?”
Join Dr. David Gortner, pro-
fessor of evangelism and
congregational life at VTS, to
consider the ways that young adults (20’s and 30’s) think
about religion and the spiritual life. Whether you work
with young adults, mentor one, parent one, or consider
yourself one, there is much to learn about the future
of relgious life in America. For more information, visit
www.vts.edu.
Institute for Christian Formation & Leadership
The CMT Welcomes
New Director
V
irginia Seminary
welcomes to cam-
pus Dr. Lisa Kim-
ball, the new Director of
the Center for the Ministry
of Teaching (CMT) and
Professor of Christian
Formation and Congrega-
tional Leadership. Kimball
served as a faculty member
of the College of Educa-
tion and Human Develop-
ment at the University of
Minnesota and a Research
Scientist for Search
Institute’s Center for
Spiritual Develop-
ment in Childhood
and Adolescence. She
brings over 20-years
of experience working
as a lay professional
educator, youth min-
ister and leadership
trainer in the Episco-
pal Church.
As a member of the ICFL
faculty, Kimball will have
oversight of the CMT and
will teach courses at the
master’s and doctoral lev-
els in Christian education,
faith development, and
other aspects of practical
theology in parish, school,
camp and other settings.
News from the Hill · Fall 2009
Describing herself as a
“bridge-person,” Kimball
emphasizes the importance
of knowing how to build
collaborations and com-
munity partnerships across
lines of religion, language,
race and class. “To do that,”
stresses Kimball, “lay and
clergy leaders must know
their own stories of faith
well enough to welcome
challenging dialogue.”
“As I see it,” says Kimball,
“the mission of
the CMT is to make
God’s promise of being
loved and forgiven through
Jesus Christ incarnate in
trustworthy, resource-rich
relationships, high quality,
multi-media educational
materials and research
initiatives for a diverse
Church.”
5
I
n May, the Seminary’s 186th Com-
mencement was held. Sixty-three
diplomas were awarded and the com-
mencement address was given by the
Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, suffragan
bishop, retired, Diocese of Massachusetts.
To watch Bishop Harris’ commencement
address, visit the Media Gallery on the VTS
Web site (www.vts.edu.)

Honorary degrees were conferred upon the

Rev. Benjamin Pfohl Campbell, pastoral
director of Richmond Hill in Richmond,
Virginia; the Rev. Dr. Carl P. Daw, Jr., execu-
tive director of The Hymn Society in Boston,
Massachusetts; and Mr. Donnie E. Wheat-
ley, executive director of Boys’ Home, Inc. in
Covington, Virginia.

6 News from the Hill · Fall 2009


DIRECTOR’S
NOTE
M
y first month as Direc-
tor of Alumni, Annual
Giving and Church Rela-
tions has been much like
a ride at Disneyland (only
appropriate after leaving
General Convention in
Anaheim), a true season
of transition. I went from
being a student to becoming
staff, deacon to priest, from
my apartment to a house,
a new school for my son,
and most im-
portantly for my
wife, from being
unemployed to
employed. Yes,
it has its ups and
downs but the
ride is exciting;
after getting off
one only thinks
about riding this roller
coaster again. But I can
look back and say, “I did it.”
Virginia Seminary is enter-
ing into a new chapter in
our long history here in
Alexandria. The Seminary,
able to weather the storms
of ages past, has once again
made it through another -
a bit battered and possibly
scarred but still standing.
We are also stronger be-
cause of the experience.
The Episcopal Church is
in the midst of redirecting
its own mission, seeking
to be relevant to the nation
News from the Hill · Fall 2009
Office of Alumni Affairs
and the world. The world,
or more specifically, the
Anglican Communion may
not understand and may
disagree with our Church
but it is up to the priests,
pastors, teachers, scholars
and faithful churchmen and
women who have been
educated at VTS to help
foster healthy relationships
with all throughout the
Anglican Communion. As
we have in ages
past, we will
get through all
of this, looking
back and saying
“We did it!”
I encourage all
of you to attend
our Fall Convo-
cation October 6 & 7, 2009.
We look forward to hosting
you as you reconnect with
classmates and friends. The
classes of 1949, 1954 and
1959 will be special guests
of the Seminary as they
celebrate their 60th, 55th
and 50th anniversaries of
their graduation from VTS.
The Office of Alumni Rela-
tions will host a special din-
ner to honor these gentle-
men on Monday, October
5th. Please contact Monina
Pangan, your class steward,
or me for more information.
In Christ,
Charles L Fischer, III
7
John Yieh Receives
Faculty Research Award
T
he Rev. John Y.H. Yieh, Ph.D.,
professor of New Testament, is
the recipient of the 2009 Suzanne
F. Thomas Faculty Research Award.
Yieh, an ordained minister of the
Presbyterian Church (USA), has taught
New Testament at Virginia Seminary
since 1995. Before joining the faculty,
Yieh served on the faculties at Bangor
Theological Seminary in Maine and
Andover Newton Theological School
in Boston.
The Suzanne F. Thomas Faculty
Research Award is given annually to
a member of the Seminary’s faculty
to support faculty research and foster
excellence in scholarship at VTS. The
award is given at the discretion of the
Dean of the Seminary.
Yieh completed his Ph.D. in Religious
Studies (specializing in New Testa-
ment Studies) at Yale University.
Prior to that, he received an M.A.
and a M. Phil. in Religious Studies
from Yale University, an M.Div. from
News from the Hill · Fall 2009
Taiwan Theological Seminary, an
M.A. in English Literature from Fu-
Zen Catholic University and a B. A.
in Foreign Languages from Tunghai
University.
Dr. Yieh is author of The Concise
Greek-Chinese Dictionary of the New
Testament (United Bible Societies,
1989), One Teacher: Jesus’ Teaching
Role in Matthew’s Gospel Report (de
Gruyter, 2004), and Making Sense of
the Sermon on the Mount (Grove, 2007).
He has also published several essays
on the history of Chinese Biblical
interpretation.
Currently, Yieh is writing a book en-
titled Lives of the Bible in China which
introduces and analyzes the charac-
teristics and consequences of Chinese
biblical hermeneutics in the recep-
tion history of the Christian Bible in
modern China. He has served on the
steering committees for the “Bible
in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and
Caribbean” program groups as well
as the Asian and Asian-American
Biblical Hermeneutics’ group in the
Society of Biblical Literature. He has
also served as President of the Mid-
Atlantic Region of the SBL.
The VTS Suzanne F. Thomas Faculty
Research Award was established
in July 2005 in honor of Suzanne F.
Thomas of Aylett, Virginia and her
strong commitment to excellence
in education and the mission of the
Episcopal Church.
Throughout her distinguished ca-
reer of service to education and the
Church, Suzanne Thomas has encour-
aged research and scholarship as a
key ingredient to excellence in teach-
ing and the vital mission of institu-
tions of greater learning.
Faculty News
World Missioner, Rich Jones, is
First Al-Alwani Chair in Muslim
Christian Dialogue
The Washington
Theological Consortium
(WTC) has announced
that the Rev. Dr.
Richard Jones, retired
professor of Mission
and World Religions
at Virginia Seminary, will be the first
recipient of the Al-Alwani Chair in Mus-
lim Christian Dialogue. The Washington
Theological Consortium is a community of
theological institutions of diverse Christian
traditions whose mission is to witness to
Christian unity and to provide an ecumeni-
cal context for equipping leaders while
seeking a deeper appreciation of other
world religions.
Jacques Hadler’s Family
Systems Class Now Offered Online
Rev. Jacques Hadler’s
course, An Introduction to
the Application of Bowen
Family Systems Theory
to Ministry, can now be
accessed through the VTS
Web site thanks to a new
online initiative called
“VTS Without Walls”.
Through “VTS Without
Walls”, individuals
and groups from all
over the world can
access deep discus-
sions about ministry
and leadership happening
here on Holy Hill and beyond. “VTS With-
out Walls” fulfills a key component of the
Seminary’s Strategic Plan, in which we are
living toward more web-based educational
resources for persons in the larger Washing-
ton, D.C. area and for the church beyond.
Additional videos will be added in the weeks
and months to come, giving helpful resourc-
es to dioceses who train priests locally a
unique opportunity to witness the conversa-
tions happening on the “Holy Hill.” Visit www.
vts.edu/withoutwalls.
Joseph Constant’s New Book Addresses
Plight Against Institutional Racism
T
he Rev. Joseph M. Constant,
director of Ethnic Ministries
and Student Life at Virginia
Seminary, release a new book this past
July, No Turning Back: the Black Pres-
ence at Virginia Theological Seminary
(Evergreen Press), which endeavors to
capture the story of racism in the life
of Virginia Seminary and the Bishop
Payne Divinity School.
No Turning Back was written in re-
sponse to the 2006 General Convention
Resolution A123 in which The Episco-
pal Church resolved to “acknowledge
its history of participation in [slav-
ery] and the deep and lasting injury
which the institution of slavery and its
aftermath have inflicted on society and
on the Church.” The letter of apology
from Dean Markham included in the
“These men and women
have given all of themselves,
heart and soul to a church
that’s still figuring out how
to integrate them.”
The Rev. Joseph M. Constant
book is an explicit acknowledgement
of the Seminary’s own failures and is
reflective of the commitment of the
Seminary to address its own failures
in eradicating racism.
No Turning Back also ensures that
the rich history and tradition in the
Episcopal Church amongst African
Americans--particularly as it relates
to theological education at VTS--is not
lost.
“The total impact of this book is strik-
ing,” said Dean Markham. “It is a
powerful analysis and narrative of an concerned with racial justice must pay
institution’s interaction with unjust close attention to the future of theo-
structures and a powerful challenge to logical education since there is
us all to make the world different for ‘no turning back.’”
the future.”
A 2003 graduate of VTS, Constant
In addition to an introduction and came to the Seminary following
contributions by the Rev. Lloyd A.
Lewis, Jr., Ph.D., the Seminary’s Molly
service at St. Timothy’s Episcopal
Church in Washington, DC. Born in
Laird Downs Professor of New Testa-
ment, the book includes a historical
Haiti, Constant is the founder of the
Haiti-Micah Project, an organization
narrative and interviews with several that addresses the most basic needs of
of the black graduates of VTS. “My impoverished and uneducated street
interviews with the graduates of the children in Haiti.
Seminary,” said Constant, “bear wit-
ness to the fact that those who are To order a copy of No Turning Back,
please contact the Cokesbury Book-
store at 703-461-1768.
News from the Hill · Fall 2009
 Student News
Student Body President
A
s the new student
body president for
this academic year,
I am very pleased to work
alongside the other elected
Student Body Officers. They
include: Vice-President,
Geoff Evans, (M.Div. ’10)
from the diocese of Alabama,
Christine Faulstich, (M. Div.
’10) from the diocese of Texas,
and Melissa Bruckart, (M.
Div. ’11) from the diocese of
Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Each has an abiding love for
VTS and cares deeply about
the positions they hold. I am
excited to have such a great
team with which to collabo-
rate for the coming year.
The history and legacy of VTS
What I Did on My
is of raising up and forming
leaders for a variety of work
within God’s church and the Summer Vacation
world. And while some of
these leadership character-
istics may be formed before
coming to seminary, it is here
at VTS that these characteris-
tics of leadership are encour-
aged and honed for helping
to lead the people of God.
As the incoming students
arrive and we get to know
them, I am excited to discover
the unique gifts and talents
they bring to enrich our com-
munity. I am also excited by
the fact that they, like count-
less graduates of VTS before England: The Archbishop of Canterbury
them, will go forth into the shared his tea with Patrick Greene (MDiv.
world leading the churches ‘10) who, in turn, shared his tatts.
in their own dioceses but also
helping to shape and lead the
larger Episcopal Church both
now and in the years to come.
In Christ,
Matthew Hanisian
Diocese of Southern Ohio
Below: Members of the Class of
2012 on a day-trip to Washing-
ton. Photo courtesy of Ms. Lara
Shine. Junior, Shawn Strout, spent his summer
in a Spanish immersion program, visiting
some of the missions in the Copan region
of Honduras.
From left to right: seniors Sandy Webb
and Chris Robinson served with Annie
Cumberland (VTS ‘07) and fellow senior
Christine Faulstich as adult staff members
at Camp Bratton-Green in Mississippi.
 Office of Institutional Advancement

The Practice of Gratefulness Office of Institutional

Advancement Welcomes

I Chris Northrup
n my News from the Hill article last
spring, I wrote about the Seminary’s
financial crisis and it’s profound effect
Chris Northrup is
on our community. This summer, I have
the new Leader-
found myself intentionally practicing
ship and Planned
gratitude.
Giving Officer in the
Office of Institu-
On vacation I gave thanks for a different
tional Advancement.
routine; for the beauty of our mountain
Northrup, who
home; for my quirky but beloved father-
joined the Seminary
in-law who passed away this July; for
staff on August 4, is
the opportunity to preach at the August
responsible for increasing participa-
installation of Lonnie Lacy at St. Anne’s
tion in the seminary’s planned giving
Church in Tifton, Georgia; and for the
legacy society and will help develop
generosity of family and friends. A grate-
strategies for cultivating major gifts.
ful heart seems right for a summer day
that is perfect in every way.
Northrup has been a professional
fundraiser for the last ten years. He
And although I was frustrated by the en-
was the Director of Major and Planned
tire process of General Convention, it did
Giving at Shenandoah University.
leave me with one abiding thought: many people love this Church. I was grate-
He solicited Shentel Corporation’s
ful for small moments in Anaheim: seeing an old friend; having a drink and a
donation of $750,000 over ten years
good laugh at the end of the day; and being inspired by heavenward music at
for naming rights to the university
the services of worship.
stadium, the first corporate naming
for a Division III college athletic facility
George Herbert has written: “Thou hast given so much to us…give one thing
in the country.
more a grateful heart.” This summer I have offered up Herbert’s well-worn
words in my own prayers about my own life and for this Seminary.
Northrup was the Director of
Development for the Virginia College
Here on the Holy Hill, there is much that commends the practice of gratefulness.
Fund in Northern Virginia and served
Out of grateful hearts, alums and friends have been generous to the Seminary
as a campaign consultant for many
in the last fiscal year, and we raised a record amount: $734,000. It was still less
organizations such as The Evans Home
than our goal of $850,000—but the glass is half full not half empty. All giving,
for Children, the Shelter for Abused
restricted and unrestricted, was slightly under $2.2m. That’s a very good year:
Women, and St. Luke’s Community
We have been given so much. I am grateful for the hard-working team in Insti-
Clinic. He has served on many non
tutional Advancement who kept their eye on the prize in this year of consider-
profit boards including WestMinster
able external economic pressure and stressful internal restructuring.
Canterbury, (current), the Rotary Club,
and Shenandoah Valley Discovery
This coming year, July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, we want to move toward $2.1m
Museum. He was head of the wor-
for our unrestricted Annual Fund—from $734,000 to $2.1m. Now that is a bold
ship committee while on the vestry
practice in gratefulness! We need a great number of people to give us $1,000
at Christ Church Winchester. Prior to
or more and thereby become part of the Twenty-First Century Fund at Vir-
working in sales, marketing, and fund-
ginia Theological Seminary. We are grateful that we are a Seminary for the 21st
raising, Northrup began his career as
Century. We need your financial support to serve the Episcopal Church and the
teacher and coach at Sidwell Friends
Anglican Communion. To deliver our Strategic Plan and to live into our mis-
School.
sion, we need many generous and grateful hearts. I am very grateful for the
many gifts that made possible our mission in the past year.
Originally from Parkersburg, West
Virginia, Northrup was baptized and
I prefer “God is good!” to “Life is good.” Practice gratefulness and come see us
confirmed at Trinity Episcopal Church.
on the Holy Hill—where God is good everyday.
He graduated from Kenyon College
in Ohio and studied at St. Andrews
James Barney Hawkins IV
University in Scotland and the Univer-
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
sity of Virginia. Northrup and his wife,
Robin, have four sons.

News from the Hill · Fall 2009 11

 Virginia Theological Seminary Nonprofit Org.
3737 Seminary Road US Postage
Alexandria, VA 22304 PAID
Alexandria, VA
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Permit No. 340

News from the Hill is published regularly by the Virginia Theological Seminary, 3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22304.
Telephone: (703) 370-6600. Please direct News from the Hill comments, questions or story ideas to Susan Shillinglaw at
sshillinglaw@vts.edu. Send address changes or corrections to Matt Anderson at manderson@vts.edu.

November 6, 2009 from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Future Events:

“Religion and the Young Adult - A Different Way of Believing” December 4, 2009
Presented by the Rev. Dr. David Gortner March 12, 2010
For more information, visit www.vts.edu/icfl/registration May 7, 2010