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Silas O. Vermilya

Centennial Scholarship Winner 2023, Renewed in 2024

Silas O. Vermilya is a third year Master of Divinity student at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Originally from northern Indiana, Silas grew up baptized and raised as a member of the Wesleyan Church. He double majored in philosophy and psychology as an undergraduate student at Indiana Wesleyan University, and sensed that further theological education was in his future. Active participation in his local church paired with his intellectual curiosity in religious studies helped him discern a call to attend seminary. In 2021, Silas pursued that call and relocated to Atlanta to study at Emory. 

As a student at Candler, Silas discovered his interest in the Hebrew Bible. He found that his love and appreciation for literature, history, theology, and story-telling all converged upon the pages of scripture. After a year immersed in the study of ancient languages and texts, his academic research quickly changed course. More importantly, however, Silas realized his even deeper passion for the place of scripture in the life of the church. While he loves engaging in critical conversations about the ancient world and the development of biblical traditions, Silas’s heart lies foremost with those seeking to make meaning from the text in their own faith journeys. Vocationally, Silas is committed to educating and equipping God’s people with the resources necessary for pursuing their faith seriously and intentionally, working to continually bridge the gap between the church and the academy.

Not only has Silas gained further direction with regard to his vocational calling during his time in seminary, but Silas found his ecclesial home in Atlanta as well. Upon matriculating at Candler, Silas joined the Anglican Studies cohort and fell in love with the Episcopal tradition. In 2022, he became a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Midtown, and was confirmed into the Episcopal Church in March of 2023 at the Cathedral of St. Philip. During the second year of his degree program, Silas worked as a seminarian at St. Luke’s.

Apart from his pursuits as a scholar and in church leadership, Silas is known to enjoy music, reading books, spending time with people, and engaging in deep, thought provoking conversations.