Seminarians Matthew Bradley from the Diocese of Kentucky and Robin Gulick, daughter of Bishop Ted and Barbara Gulick, were among 59 students who were graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) during its 185th Commencement on May 22.
In addition to receiving her degree, Robin Gulick was the recipient of the 2008 Virginia Seminary Ford Chair, a gift of Susan Ford to a member of the graduating class who has exhibited a strong commitment to the community life and mission of the Seminary.
The
commencement address, delivered by the Rev. Dr. Roger Ferlo, associate dean and director of the Seminary's Institute for
Christian Formation and Leadership, focused on making a commitment to furthering religious education after seminary.For their class gift, the graduating students of 2008 are providing funding for automatic door openers throughout the campus, "Inviting into our community those who are in need of accessibility and [demonstrating] right hospitality and our deep conviction to preach the Gospel to all people."
"As some of you cross this stage," said Ferlo, "I suggest that all of us here try to regard these academic hoods not simply as the secular symbols of advanced degrees, but also as symbols of the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, the outward and visible signs of our shared commitment to the way of the Torah that is the way of Christ, a commitment to the act of lernen…a commitment to the act of loving the Lord our God with all our minds as well as with all our hearts, and loving our neighbors as ourselves."
Founded in 1823, VTS is the largest of the 11 seminaries of the Episcopal Church. The school prepares men and women for service in the Church worldwide, both as ordained and lay ministers, and offers a number of professional degree programs and diplomas. Currently, the Seminary represents more than 42 different dioceses and 5 different countries, for service in the Church.
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