The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, this week (Tuesday 24 to Friday 27 February), visited Virginia Theological Seminary near Washington in the United States.

Bishop Anthony spoke with the students and staff about the mission of the Seminary, exchanging stories of hope and inspiration from around the Anglican Communion. This visit formed part of a wider programme of visits to clergy and bishops in Washington, Albany and New York for fellowship, learning and encouragement.

Virginia Theological Seminary

Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) is known to be one of the leading seminaries for clergy training in the United States. It is one of the few seminaries offering full-time residential training to men and women preparing for ordained ministry across the US and the Anglican Communion.

Their mission statement says, ‘Led by the Holy Spirit, Virginia Theological Seminary forms and educates leaders who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and helps others participate in God’s mission throughout the world. We are a racially and culturally diverse residential community of The Episcopal Church, devoted to worship and prayer; teaching and learning; and research and service to the wider church.’

The Centre for Anglican Communion Studies

VTS also houses the Centre for Anglican Communion Studies (CACS), which sponsors students from the majority world to study there. CACS exists to ‘equip the international community of Anglicans and Episcopalians by hosting conferences, providing consultations and supporting partnerships and projects with churches and theological institutions.’

CACS also partners with the Commission for Theological Education (CTEAC), as well as assisting many of the Communion’s networks and commissions. VTS hosted the Women Mentoring Women Leadership Conference in 2025, which gathered women leaders from around the Communion and representatives from the International Anglican Women’s Network. The Anglican Communion Science Commission will also hold a conference at VTS in October 2026 to meet, celebrate science as a God-given resource and promote collaboration between faith and science communities.

Students at VTS shared their appreciation of the community, diversity and generosity embodied in their place of study and many enrolled, as well as those in the surrounding community, came to hear Bishop Poggo speak in the CACS Forum event on Thursday, February 26th, titled ‘The Mission of God. The Mission of the Church’.

Speaking to those who gathered to hear him preach, Bishop Anthony remarked, ‘It’s good to be here at VTS. I always enjoy coming here. For those of you who are students, I hope your time here will be good preparation for being a witness and mentoring others. Witnessing and discipleship are both vital for a mission that lives on.’

Bishop Anthony spoke about the importance of the great commission and encouraged the practice of mission to always be contextual and centred on the purpose of meeting the spiritual and physical needs of the people. He described the Anglican Five Marks of Mission, abbreviated in the five words: Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure and the importance of these in being an authentic witness for Christ.

Bishop Anthony also took several questions from students and staff on the global role of the Anglican Communion, the links between the Episcopal Church and churches in the Global South, the process of electing the Archbishop of Canterbury and his account of the current struggles of the people of Sudan and South Sudan.

Later in the evening, Bishop Anthony also spent time with several students and faculty in an informal question-and-answer session to share perspectives from other provinces and understand the role of the Instruments of Communion.

The Dean and President of VTS, the Very Revd Ian Markham, PhD, shared his delight at the visit from Bishop Anthony, saying, ‘It is a genuine gift to welcome him into our common life and to have the opportunity to listen to his story, shaped as it is by faithful service to the global Church… For our students in particular, Bishop Poggos’s visit is a reminder that the vocation we are discerning and preparing for is always larger than ourselves — rooted in local communities yet deeply connected to a global body of Christ. For faculty, staff, families and friends of the seminary, this is likewise an opportunity to reflect on the bonds of affection that hold us together across cultures and contexts.’

The Dean and President of VTS, the Very Revd Ian Markham, met with Bishop Anthony during his time at VTS for fellowship and encouragement

The Director of CACS, the Revd Katherine Grieb, PhD, who is involved in the Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission (IATDC) and the Inter-Anglican Standing Committee on Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO), among others, shared her appreciation for the visit of the Secretary General. ‘It is always our great pleasure to welcome Bishop Anthony Poggo to the Centre for Anglican Communion Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary. He is one of our favourite visitors, both personally and professionally. Personally, because in spite of the heavy responsibility he bears and the hazards of travel he endures to reach us, he is always the most gracious, warm presence to everyone he meets. Professionally, because we are confident that his interpersonal work on behalf of all of us who care deeply about the Anglican Communion is incredibly helpful, careful and wise.

‘We at CACS are constantly amazed at how much the Anglican Communion Office does under his leadership with such a small staff and limited resources. They do miracles, both within the Anglican Communion and in support of the important ecumenical and interfaith dialogues that are so much a part of the Anglican DNA.’

Learn more about Virginia Theological Seminary.

See a short video about the Centre for Anglican Communion Studies.