Dean and President

Virginia Theological Seminary and The General Theological Seminary | Alexandria, Virginia

The General Theological Seminary (GTS, General), the oldest continually operating seminary in the Anglican Communion, and Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS, Virginia), the largest seminary of The Episcopal Church, seek a faithful, pastoral, and visionary leader to serve as their next Dean and President. Led by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this role is centered on forming and educating lay and ordained leaders who proclaim the Gospel and participate in God’s mission in the Church and the world.

Building on the momentum of the 2022 Affiliation Agreement between General and Virginia, the next Dean and President will be called to steward institutions that collectively represent The Episcopal Church’s most significant center for the formation of priests, deacons, and lay leaders. The next Dean and President will be entrusted with leadership of two institutions on a strong financial footing, poised to meet the evolving needs of current and future students, The Episcopal Church, and the wider Anglican Communion.

At once pastor, teacher, theologian, and chief executive, the Dean and President will guide the VTS and GTS communities in sustaining and strengthening their shared mission: forming leaders for the Church who are prepared to serve with faithfulness, wisdom, and a deep engagement with the Anglican tradition. This leader will work with both communities to shape the next chapter of their common life, strengthening their impact as hubs for theological education and scholarship, ministerial formation, and Church leadership, and identifying new ways to further leverage their combined strengths by optimizing systems, processes, people, and program offerings.

Appointed by the Boards of Trustees, the Dean and President of GTS and VTS is the chief executive officer of both institutions and has oversight of all aspects of seminary life, including academic affairs, alumni relations, financial management, fundraising, recruitment and admission of students, and engagement with the community, the broader church, and the world. At the same time, the Dean and President is the standard-bearer for the spiritual life of the seminary communities and must model a life rooted in prayer, deeply committed to ministry (lay or ordained), imbued with pastoral concern, and faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While the role is demanding and highly visible, the Boards are committed to supporting a leadership model that is sustainable over time and relies on collaboration, delegation, and disciplined stewardship of energy, so that the Dean and President can lead effectively for the long term.

The Dean and President will be afforded a competitive and comprehensive compensation package including housing, benefits, and salary. Specific terms will be negotiated directly with the selected candidate. The target salary range is $215,000 to $285,000 and will be commensurate with experience.

Ernest Brooks is leading this search with Liz Braun, Annah Wells, and Lisa Landis.