Kreitler Environmental Fund Announced at Virginia Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), announced the creation of The Kreitler Environmental Fund, aimed to empower clergy and the church with a strong environmental ethic in order to help conserve and preserve the environment.
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) September 13, 2006
The Very Reverend Martha J. Horne, dean and president of Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), announced the creation of The Kreitler Environmental Fund, aimed to empower clergy and the church with a strong environmental ethic in order to help conserve and preserve the environment.
“The Kreitler Environmental Fund is a wonderful tribute to the Kreitlers, as well as a splendid new resource for this community,” said Dean Horne, “It is vitally important for those who would be leaders in the Church to understand the responsibility we have to safeguard ‘this fragile earth, our island home’… this generous gift will enable us to equip men and women for the critical work of environmental stewardship in the congregations and neighborhoods in which they live and carry out their ministries.”
The Kreitler Environmental Fund is being established by Peter Gwillim Kreitler (VTS ’69), his wife Catharine B. Kreitler, brother Jay Kreitler, and friends, in memory of John (Jack) Henry Kreitler and Muriel (Billie) Gwillim Kreitler, the parents of Peter Gwillim and John (Jay) Taylor Kreitler.
“Our family has initiated this Environmental Fund because Virginia Seminary has had a long and distinguished heritage of sending men and women into the world in service to God throughout all of God’s creation,” said the Rev. Peter Gwillim Kreitler, minister for the Environment in the Diocese of Los Angeles and creator of the Southern California television Series, Earth Talk Today, “…this legacy has inspired the Kreitler family and friends to help foster and embolden new leadership informed by a strong environmental ethic that will help form a sustainable model for the future.”
“Our parents, Billie and Jack Kreitler, always had a great love of the Episcopal Church and God’s natural sanctuaries from Cape Cod to the Florida Keys… they became increasingly concerned that future generations would not inherit as healthy an environment and they encouraged me, my brother Jay and all our family in our desire to preserve the places we love.”
Once fully funded, the Fund will support initiatives such as lectures, fellowships, and scholarships. The Kreitler Environmental Lectures, which will be held at the Seminary every other year, will explore the ways one’s appreciation and stewardship of the environment is enhanced by informed theological beliefs; the Kreitler Environmental Fellowships, awarded to a member of the Episcopal Church on an every other year basis, who would be in residence at the Seminary for one month, will provide recipients opportunities to deepen the Seminary community’s understanding and appreciation of why, from a Christian perspective, the environment matters; and the Kreitler Environmental Scholarships, will provide financial assistance for a student or member of the faculty of the Seminary to participate in a significant international or national consultation, conference, or event related to the environment.
Contributions to support this important ministry may be sent to The Kreitler Environmental Fund at Virginia Theological Seminary, c/o The Very Rev. Martha J. Horne, 3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22304. For more information, contact Edwin K. Hall, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at 703-461-1711.
Virginia Theological Seminary is the largest of the 11 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church and was founded in 1823. The school prepares men and women, representing more than 40 different dioceses and 9 different countries, for service in the Church, both as ordained and lay ministers, and offers a number of professional degree programs and diplomas.
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