VTS magazine

From the divine perspective, the human capacity to create moments of confrontation and hatred is astonishing. We keep doing it. Modern America emerged from the Revolutionary War, where Loyalists and Patriots fought each other; and the early Republic witnessed fierce conflict between Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans. Then, of course, came the long march toward the Civil War, with the Missouri Compromise and the violent clashes following the Dred Scott decision. The Reconstruction era nearly produced another civil war after the disputed election of 1876. Entering the twentieth century, we saw violent labor strikes – the Haymarket Riot (1886), the Pullman Strike (1894), and the Ludlow Massacre (1912). The 1930s brought the Great Depression. The 1960s brought the Civil Rights Movement and widespread protests over the Vietnam War. The 1990s witnessed the Oklahoma City bombing. In 2001, we had the attack on the World Trade Center followed by the Iraq war. And now, we find ourselves in a season of deep polarization, where the concept of a “loyal opposition” – one that loves America while challenging its policies – has all but vanished.

Virginia Theological Seminary was founded 47 years after the birth of the modern United States in 1776. As a result, we have lived through many of these moments of tension and turmoil. At times, we were complicit in systems of oppression that led to violence – we were, after all, an institution that used enslaved labor. At other times, we sought to be a constructive witness to a better future, as when we admitted John Walker as a student. Sometimes, we simply continued the faithful work of forming human lives for the sake of the Gospel.

I find it helpful to locate our present moment within this long historical arc. Our primary work remains unchanged. We witness to the reality of God – to the truth that we live in a world which is intended. We witness to the eternal values that are true for all time. We witness to a God of love who seeks to transform human lives into instruments of divine grace, and we anticipate the reign of God in our community. This is our enduring vocation.

In this issue of the magazine, we explore the world of giving: the gift of a human life willing to relocate to Alexandria and train for ministry; the gift of alumni who serve faithfully week after week in countless ministry settings; and the gift of friends and graduates who write their checks with care, ensuring that we can continue the timeless work of eternity – work that our moment desperately needs.

As you browse this issue, whether on your cell phone or in print (for those who requested a physical copy), take heart. Cable news may be grim and exhausting, but this magazine brings a different kind of news: doors opening, possibilities emerging, students flourishing, and alumni making a difference.

This time will pass. But the shape of the future depends on what we do now. I am grateful that you, dear reader, are among those helping to shape that future. Read, engage, give – and together, let us build a world grounded in mutual respect, compassion for the poor and powerless, and a steadfast commitment to respecting the dignity of every human being.