Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

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Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

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We connect, nurture, and celebrate communities of faithful practice.

The Center for the Ministry of Teaching was founded in 1985 to promote research and development to foster improved teaching practices and curricula in The Episcopal Church. Our resource library and ministry of consultation and training have historically served the Virginia Theological Seminary community as well as the broader Church. In more recent years, we have embraced the opportunities of the digital age, expanding our technological resources and extending our ministry into the online world. We look forward to working with you as we seek and serve Christ through vital lifelong faith formation.

10/31/2026

Wallace Benton

10/29/2026

EVERY MONDAY AT 2:00 PM ET: Office Hours provide an opportunity to connect with members of the Lifelong Learning Team at Virginia Theological Seminary who specialize in Christian formation and ministry development!

Church leaders in all areas of ministry (clergy, children's ministry, youth ministry, adult education, chaplaincy, etc.) are invited to ask questions, learn about new Christian formation resources, or just find a supportive sounding board. Drop in and chat with us!

Office hours happen each Monday from 2:00-3:00pm (ET).
REGISTER: https://ll-office-hours-26.eventbrite.com

NOTE: Office Hours sessions are not a Bible study, public program, or webinar. Please bring your questions, concerns, dreams, and ideas to share with the Lifelong Learning staff members.

Sarah Bentley Allred Wallace Benton Samantha Clare Donna Sweeting

10/27/2026

Recently our Hope Exchange team gathered outside Chicago for a two-day visioning and planning retreat.

Hope Exchange is Lifelong Learning’s new five-year initiative focused on revitalizing faith through personal narratives. The program’s goals are:

1. to reach spiritually curious but institutionally wary individuals and communities with stories of transformation grounded in local relationships

2. to support institutional leaders such as pastors, lay leaders, and denominational staff with resources to integrate storytelling effectively into faith formation.

Hope Exchange is a highly collaborative project undertaken with partner Future of Faith and leaders from the Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Presbyterian Church (USA). The project has two storytelling festivals and numerous online resource launches planned for early 2027, so stay tuned!

Pictured are:

Rohini Drake, Storytelling Creative Content Director for Future of Faith

Kyle Oliver, Program Director for Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Lindsey Lewis, Grants Manager for Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Nikki Collins, Storytelling Ministry Director for Future of Faith

Rohini Drake Future of Faith Kyle Oliver Lindsey Lewis Nikki Collins

IMAGE: R. Drake

10/22/2026

Join this two-part Lunch & Learn series to explore what it means to cultivate communities of radical hospitality where every person can belong, learn, and contribute.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity—including common neurotypes such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and anxiety—and discover practical, evidence-based strategies for creating more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive ministries.

Whether you serve in children's formation, youth ministry, adult education, or congregational leadership, these sessions will provide tools that can be implemented immediately within your faith community!

Embracing Neurodiversity in the Church
Thursdays, November 5 and 12, 2026
12 noon - 1:30 PM ET

REGISTER: https://neurodiversity-church.eventbrite.com

Krista Gauthier

10/15/2026

WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP! Explore how boundaries, or lack thereof, can be life-giving or life-draining in our lives and roles as ministers. Panelists will share wisdom and learnings from their personal experience as formation leaders as well as from their experience mentoring others who are called to serve God’s church.

Called, Not Consumed
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

With live Spanish interpretation.

REGISTER: https://ww-called-not-consumed.eventbrite.com

10/13/2026

Last weekend, our Preaching Congregations Initiative launched its first Young Adult Preaching Program Cohort with a retreat at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas. The Rev. Rich Nelson led the retreat and Lifelong Learning's Lindsey Lewis facilitated and led group exercises. Nineteen young adults from the Episcopal Church's Province VII joined! (Province VII/Province of Southwest covers 11 dioceses across seven states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.)

The Preaching Congregation Initiative's Young Adult Preaching Program is an opportunity for young adults to find their voice and proclaim the Gospel. The six-month experience includes two in-person retreats, one-on-one coaching, and monthly sessions on the four stages of sermon development.

Camp Allen

IMAGES: Preaching Congregations Initiative

10/08/2026

On October 7, 2026, Lifelong Learning and the Godly Play Foundation marked the opening of the Jerome W. Berryman Special Collection and Archive!

Housed in its own room within the Lifelong Learning offices, the collection is open to those wishing to explore the sources that informed Berryman’s work. Thanks to the efforts of Lifelong Learning and Godly Play Foundation staff members, visitors are able to easily search for a particular book or essay using a digital catalogue.

Contents of the Berryman Special Collection and Archive were culled from the personal library of Dr. Jerome W. Berryman (1937-2024), cofounder of the global Christian education movement known as Godly Play. (Berryman developed Godly Play with his wife, Thea.) The collection’s 800+ volumes, paired with the archives being housed at Bishop Payne Library, represent a lifetime of work in the theology of childhood, Christian formation, children’s spirituality, and pastoral practice.

The collection opening program included musical preludes by students from St. Stephen and St. Agnes Episcopal School, remarks by staff from the Godly Play Foundation, a reception, plus the opportunity to explore the collection itself. We were especially honored by the presence of Jerome Berryman's daughter, Alyda.

10/06/2026

During a recent visit to Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island, The Rev. Shawn Strout, Ph.D., (Interim Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning) engaged with clergy, lay leaders, diocesan leaders who are part of our Mutual Ministry Initiative. Here's Shawn with The Rev. Jasmine (Jazzy) Bostock, a Native Hawaiian diocesan leader and priest at St. John the Baptist Church.

Notice the display of fruits and vegetables in the background? Shawn and Jazzy had lunch at a restaurant that's part of the Foodland local grocery chain, Hawai'i’s largest locally owned and operated grocery retailer!

Jazzy Bostock Shawn Strout Foodland - Hawaii

IMAGE: Lifelong Learning

10/01/2026

Recently, each Roots & Wings Fellow and Program Leader received a Welcome Package in the mail. Included were:

- a candle to use during the twice monthly Zoom cohort gatherings

-the recently released book Church Together: An Essential Guide to All-Age Ministry by Traci Smith and David M. Csinos

-a "plantable" pencil from Lifelong Learning

-a Roots & Wings sticker (because every water bottle and/or laptop needs one 😊)

Small, contextual experimentation is a core element of the Roots & Wings Fellowship Program. During their time in the program, Fellows will be encouraged to draw ideas from Church Together--which features an entire section on ideas for intergenerational worship!

09/29/2026

Explore how boundaries, or lack thereof, can be life-giving or life-draining in our lives and roles as ministers. Panelists will share wisdom and learnings from their personal experience as formation leaders as well as from their experience mentoring others who are called to serve God’s church.

Wednesday Workshops include live Spanish interpretation.

REGISTER: https://ww-called-not-consumed.eventbrite.com

Address

3737 Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA
22304

Telephone

(703) 461-1885

Website

https://vts.edu/lifelong-learning/

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