St. Nicholas Partnership
"I am so delighted that this St. Nicholas resource for families, churches, and schools will have a long-term future. It is such an honor to partner with VTS, the very best source for digital formation."
Carol P. Myers, executive director for the St. Nicholas Center.
Virginia Theological Seminary is pleased to announce a new partnership with the St. Nicholas Center, a uniquely curated source of information and resources that tell the story of St. Nicholas and his relationship to Christian tradition.
"I am so delighted that this St. Nicholas resource for families, churches, and schools will have a long-term future," said Carol P. Myers, executive director for the St. Nicholas Center. "It is such an honor to partner with VTS, the very best source for digital formation."
The partnership outlines a plan for VTS to assume responsibility within five years for the website and the wealth of information there about the saint—customs from around the world, stories and activities for children, and much more—all designed to help families, churches and schools learn about and celebrate St. Nicholas. The website is currently under Myers' supervision and responsibility for it will ultimately transfer to Lifelong Learning at VTS. The David and Carol Myers Foundation made a significant gift to endow transfer of the website that coincides with VTS' Bicentennial Campaign priority to endow Lifelong Learning in its mission and ministry.
Dean Markham noted that it has been 17 years since the Center's website started in 2002, and said, "We are delighted to give it a new home as part of our Bicentennial celebration. Online education is key as we approach our third century of service to the Church; adding the St. Nicholas Center's website to our offerings makes good sense."
With a million visits annually from at least 155 countries to the website, this is a great resource to inherit. Lisa Kimball, Ph.D., associate dean of Lifelong Learning at VTS, is very excited about the partnership saying: "We, in Lifelong Learning, are in the business of activating baptism and equipping church leaders. We welcome the committed and the curious. Our new partnership with the St. Nicholas Center is an outward and visible sign of our mission connecting the world's premier collection of St. Nicholas resources and practices with lay and clergy leaders across the church. St. Nicholas, lover of the poor and patron saint of children, is an inspiration for all Christians today."
The Center's traveling exhibition on St. Nicholas was installed by Myers this fall in the VTS Welcome Center, where it was on display through Epiphany.
From Virginia Theological Seminary Magazine, Winter 2020, page 37.