One of the many long time traditions of the Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM) is honoring the necrology of SIM alumni and alumni spouses who have died in the past year by celebrating Holy Eucharist on All Saints Day. Today, a community of worshippers from SIM joined members of St. John's Parish, West Hartford, Connecticut. The Rev. Joseph Pace, Rector of St. John's, SIM alumnus and former SIM board member, was the homilist. Board chair, the Rev. Dr. Richard Tombaugh; Scholarship Program Administrator, Ms. Ruth McElraevy; and I read the SIM necrology, as well as the names in whose memory SIM received donations in the past year.
Community is important to SIM. Two weeks ago I visited "our" students at Virginia Theological Seminary. We worshipped in the VTS Seminary Chapel. Ten days ago that chapel, so central to VTS life and community, burned to the ground in a tragic fire. Fortunately there was no loss of human life, but certainly there is a loss to VTS community life. On All Saints Day we also remember that loss for the seminary, the Dean, staff and seminarians, including "our" 21 SIM grant recipients. Last week our board, acknowledging VTS as a vital part of our SIM community, passed a "Declaration of concern and prayer for Virginia Theological Seminary, Dean Markham, VTS staff and seminarians because of the disastrous fire that destroyed their 129 year old Immanuel Chapel."
Seminary chapel is central to the formation of our future ordained leaders. SIM has always supported formation as a necessary element of the "thorough education" that SIM's founders sought to aid in 1857. Recently Sewanee senior Al Crumpton thanked SIM for supporting his formation:
"SIM has been a tremendous support during my time in seminary. SIM has helped make it possible for me to receive the full benefit of residential seminary. While in seminary, I have been formed both in classroom and outside of the classroom in the community. The financial support I received from SIM helped make my formation experience possible. My education and experience in a residential community will benefit my future parishioners and me greatly as we live our lives together in the parish.... I pray that God will continue to bless you and the ministry of SIM."As "future parishioners" of our current seminarians, Episcopalians can be thankful for the formation that seminaries provide our future ordained leaders. We grieve the Virginia Theological Seminary's loss for all Episcopalians and pray for God's guidance in the formation of our seminarians. We especially pray for strength and courage for the VTS community to find new ways to continue community formation of our future ordained leaders. Seminary formation is one of the gifts of The Episcopal Church.
SIM and our seminarians thank you.
Faithfully,
Tom Moore
Executive Director
SIM
