Ordained to service, scholarship, and ministry
Virginia Johnston White was ordained to the ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on May 31 in DDH's Chapel of the Holy Grail. Gathered for the joyous celebration were family members, friends, and colleagues from local, regional, general, global, and ecumenical manifestations of the church and from the academy. William Schweiker preached; he is the Edward L. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor of Theological Ethics at the Divinity School, a United Methodist minister, and Virginia's dissertation advisor.
After a welcome by Dean Kris Culp, the service was convened through the words and prayers of Colton Lott and Cynthia Lindner. Virginia's mother, Rev. Mary Lu Johnston, gave the ordination prayer. Participants included Associate General Minister Yvonne Gilmore, Executive Director of Week of Compassion Vy Nguyen, Bethany Fellows Director Aneesah Ettress Veatch, Regional Minister Rick Hamilton, and representatives of Virginia's sponsoring and home congregations, Root + Branch in Chicago and University Christian Church in Austin, Texas. The service culminated with Virginia--newly ordained, fitted with the signs of the office, and joined by her father, Ted White--presiding over communion and giving the benediction. Crowning the service was a glorious postlude of Widor's Toccata from Symphony No. 5 by guest organist Patrick Scott.