Summertime…Our blog has been quiet for a few months as we have been closing down the last academic year and preparing for the new–and taking vacations. My vacation was wonderful; and now I’m alone in the office this week while Marguerite and Fr. Crossin are out, but this relaxing state of affairs will not last long. The first autumn orientation…

Dear Friends:Summer has been a slower time at the Consortium office.We don’t receive so many phone calls–Yet we are busy preparingfor next year.One anniversary that occurs next year is the 100th Anniversary of theWeek of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is usually celebrated throughoutthe world from January 18 th to January 25th each year. However,participants understand that this celebration can…

Friends:My coffee is finished for the day.I wanted to let you know that we have given thefirst two Consortium Ecumenism Certificates.Elizabeth Felicetti of Virginia Theological Seminaryand Karen McCorkle Thompson of Wesley received theseawards at ceremonies on their campuses these past two weeks.A Consortium student must complete 12 graduate credits of studyin ecumenism to receive the Certificate [see the Consortium website…

Friends:The Friends Reception this past Tuesday was a very enjoyable event.We honored Rev. Martha Horne Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary with the first Consortium Service Award. Dr. Horne has always been a quiet and helpful presence in the Consortium deliberations. She shares her considerable wisdom–she offers practical help as well. She is retiring this year after 13 years…

Thank You for a Lovely Evening! Last evening the Consortium’s Development Committee sponsored the Sixth Annual Reception for the Friends of the Washington Theological Consortium, an auxiliary group of regional supporters who commit themselves to our mission of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and education.Rev. Clark Lobenstine, Executive Director of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, and David Yount, author and…

Essay Contest Paper ReadingYesterday at lunchtime I attended the Student Board’s Paper Reading at Catholic University. Shannon McAlister, the 2006-2007 Student Board Chair, arranged for the room, publicity and catering, and coordinated the scheduling with the presenters and the MC.Brother Ignatius Schweitzer, Student Board Representative from the Dominican House of Studies and a former winner of the Essay Contest, servas…

Friends:Teaching is always an exhilarating experience.The discussions are particularly interesting.I just finished the lectures for the course in theFuture of Ecumenism [taught with Dr. Mitzi Budde]at VTS and I also taught a week’s course for the RichmondConsortium in January.The discussions vary of course.Up north, all the students came from churches withsimilar, though not identical, ecclesiologies–all the studentsat VTS have bishops…

The Institute for Interreligious Study and Dialogue of the Catholic University of America in conjunction with The Washington Theological ConsortiumpresentsA Roundtable DiscussionInterfaith Marriages:Challenges and Opportunities for Couples and PastorsFeatured discussants:Rabbi Michael FeshbachTemple Shalom, Chevy ChaseDr. Eugene FisherSecretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious AffairsU.S. Conference of Catholic BishopsMohamed and Sally ZakariyaArlington, VA4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2007The Msgr. Stephen P….

Featured Member Event: Interfaith DiscussionChristianity, Islam & Peace“Francis of Assisi’s Encounter with Sultan Malek al-Kamil:A Paradigm for Doing Peace and Rebuilding the World”– exploring the unprecedented venture of risk-taking between Francis of Assisi and Malek al-Kamil.Sr. Kathleen Warren, OSF, DMinTuesday, March 20, at 7:30 pm with reception to follow. Free and open to the public.Washington Theological Union. 6896 Laurel St,…

Friends:I have not been blogging for awhile–my most busyJanuary-February on record.One follow-up to last time when I was discussingsharing our stories. One of my students in Richmond inJanuary, who works full time with homeless people and studiestheology part-time, noted that one thing that homeless peoplehave to share is their stories. We gain greatly from listening toothers.Peace,John…