Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in Alexandria, awarded late-night host Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evelyn McGee-Colbert, the Dean’s Cross for Servant Leadership during a ceremony on February 6. The seminary is the largest and second-oldest accredited seminary of the Episcopal Church. According to a statement, VTS recognized Mr. Colbert for his “work as a satirist who provokes critical thinking and inspires change,” while his wife, an independent film producer and the Vice President of Spartina Productions, was recognized for her work in the arts. The couple have been married since 1993 and have three adult children.

Colbert is best known for his work on “The Colbert Report” and “The Late Show.” He is a Roman Catholic and is “deeply shaped by his faith and by his baptismal covenant to respect the dignity of every human being, even as he calls out human foibles and follies” according to a release. Colbert’s citation for the reward read “Your humor and genius are seasoned with passion and compassion. Courage and humility accompany you in every monologue. The Virginia Theological Seminary honors you with the Dean’s Cross because you are a truth-telling storyteller who is living the well-formed life in Christ.” His wife’s citation read, “Your life as a film producer, actress, arts advocate, theater professional, daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend is a lasting testament to unity overcoming estrangement.” “Stephen Colbert and Evelyn McGee-Colbert have modeled a steady and gracious Christian witness amid challenging and often unforgiving circumstances,” said the Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D., dean and president of VTS. “They remind us that faithfulness is not withdrawn from public life but practiced within it, with courage, humility, and perseverance.”

Colbert’s faith has been often criticized by his opponents given his support of progressive issues like gay marriage, transgender rights, and abortion. In 2022, Christian theologian and author Tim Keller praised Colbert’s response about the way his faith shapes his comedy. Colbert was responding to a question about his faith and said “So if there’s some relationship between my faith and my comedy, it’s that no matter what happens, you are never defeated. You must understand this and see it in the light of eternity and find some way to love and laugh with each other.” “This is a skillful example of how to be a Christian in the public square,” Keller wrote of Colbert’s response. “It is a form of witness that culture can handle. We should desire to have more Christians in these spaces and give them grace as they operate.”

Others pushed back at Keller’s praise, accusing Colbert of habitually “bearing false witness” against President Donald Trump, whom Colbert formerly accused of colluding with Russia. Years later, in 2025, Protestia pointed at Colbert’s support of actress Cynthia Erivo, a black “queer” woman, playing the role of Jesus Christ in a production of “Jesus Christ, Super Star.” “‘Devout Catholic’ Stephen Colbert, whom Tim Keller once described as a ‘brilliant example of how to be a Christian in the public square’ despite being a pro-choice, pro-lgbtq progressive, insists a Black queer woman portraying Jesus in a musical, is ‘long overdue.’” On X, critics accused the Episcopalian seminary of going “woke” for awarding the Colberts. “What do you expect from pseudo-Catholics? You might as well look to the ‘United’ Methodists, who just split over issues like this, for bible-based morality,” wrote one user on X. “Episcopalians are lucky if they can SPELL Bible, let alone model their lives around its teachings.”