March 20, 2017

I hope that this post finds each of you and your families enjoying a Blessed 2017.  I fully realize that it has been quite a while since my last post. The 3d Quarter at VTS was exceptionally busy and I can only plead that I was working very hard. On a happy note, many of you will be relieved to know that I did pass all of my Fall Semester classes!

Today I want to discuss Sunday worship at Seminary, or more particularly, our Sunday worship experience to this point. A requirement at VTS is that all M/Div students act as a seminarian at a local parish for a minimum of three semesters beginning in the Fall of the second year.[1] This is known as “Field Ed.” There is rather broadly definition of “local” and some seminarians will travel 30 – 45 minutes to their parish. The DMV[2] is pretty much “Episcopal Central” and there is something on the order of 125+ parishes within a sixty-minute drive from VTS.

All Juniors are encouraged to visit as many parishes as possible to determine what parish may be the best fit for their particular situation. The parishes from which to choose vary tremendously in size and nature. Some have an average Sunday attendance of 30 to parishes with an average attendance of 700-800 and everywhere in between.[3] The liturgy at the parishes varies in formality from “snake-belly low” to Anglo-Catholic. In other words, in some churches there is very little pomp and circumstance and at others there is great formality and lots of “smells and bells.” (Incense and chimes.)[4]

The process for choosing a field-ed parish is well-defined. Any parish that wants to have one or more seminarians must notify VTS and agree to certain guidelines roles the seminarian will play at the parish. Each seminarian is required to commit at least twelve hours per week to duties at the field-ed parish. The juniors interviewed at parishes where they are interested. Those interviews could not begin until January and the parishes could not extend offers to students until February 27. There are vastly more parishes than students and every student eventually finds a field-ed site. However, there are several very popular parishes that may have four to eight applicants and there are quite a few parishes at which two or three juniors interview. Every junior interviews at multiple parishes. The result is that February 27 had a feel similar to “bid day” in medical school when students learn which residency program they will attend.

From August through December, Darla and I went to a different parish each Sunday. As I mentioned, the area is Episcopal Central and there are many historic parishes that we visited. Space does not allow a discussion of all interesting parishes, but I will mention a few. Falls Church is the oldest parish in the area. It was established in 1732 and sits in Falls Church, VA. The full name of the Church is “Falls Church” and it is older than the town which adopted its name. Another very old church is Christ Church, Alexandria which bills itself as “Historic Christ Church.” Christ Church was established 240 years ago. George Washington and Robert E. Lee were members and the pews they used bear their names. Another notable church is St. John’s, Lafayette Square. It is directly across the Square from the White House and most of the presidents over the past 150 years have attended one or more services there. While not an Episcopalian, Abraham Lincoln would occasionally slip in after the beginning of a service, sit in the back right pew and slip out before the service concluded. A magnificent setting is the National Cathedral which looks like a cathedral you might find in Europe.

It soon became apparent that our most important criteria for choosing a field-ed site had to do with the supervising clergy. We wanted a supervisor with significant experience and who is an effective teacher. Often we could tell quickly that the “fit” would not be good and just as often we were intrigued. Throughout January and February Darla and I revisited parishes in which we were interested and I interviewed with several of them. Ultimately, we accepted an offer from St. John’s in McLean, VA. It is a relatively young parish in the area—it was established in 1866. Ed Miller is the rector and the parish is very welcoming. Darla and I are quite excited to spend the next two-plus years at St. John’s.

May God’s Peace be with each of you and your loved ones,

Randy

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[1] As a refresher, the first year is the Junior year, the second year is the “Middler” year, and the third year is the Senior year. No, I do not know how any of this evolved, but it all sounds very Anglican and I suspect it originated in England.

[2] “DMV” stands for District, Maryland and Virginia and encompasses the greater D.C. area.

[3] A parish that has 700 in attendance, spread out over three or four services, is a “megachurch” in the Episcopal Church world.

[4] A full discussion of the variances in liturgy and the implications of “Anglo-Catholic” would take several pages.