[Magdalen] D's letter

[Jay Weigel]

I thought it was a little, um, self-serving. But then I thought, maybe it's
just me. Glad I'm not the only one.

On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 2:05 PM, Jon Egger <revegger at gmail.com> wrote:

> Wow.  What an ego.
>
> +++
> Grace & peace,
> jon
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 8:50 AM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > This is the letter:
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > >
> > > I could not fine a link either so I cut and pasted.  Here you go!
> > >
> > > To the beloveds of God's church in the world
> > >
> > > Some of you may be following the unfolding of various controversies
> > surrounding The General Seminary of The Episcopal Church here in New York
> > City and around me, it's Dean and President. Until today, there were
> three
> > main issues: (1) allegations against me personally, (2) faculty
> employment
> > issues, and (3) overarching and intensely serious issues regarding the
> > future of Christian theological education in America, in The Episcopal
> > Church, and at General Seminary. While dutifully silent until now, I have
> > felt for a while that I need to touch on all three.
> > >
> > > But, this morning something much more serious emerged. It is about my
> > support for our LGBT community and those loved by God around the world.
> My
> > hubris in addressing this letter to all of God's beloveds worldwide is
> > because statements which may hurt one of us actually hurts all of us,
> > wherever you live. I think that's what Christian community is about.
> > >
> > > LGBT Issues
> > >
> > > Let me start as I will end this section: I support our LGBT community
> > without condition. Period.
> > >
> > > Of all the allegations made - and to be made, I'm sure - when
> fabricated
> > things start to circulate, I know we have a collective problem. The issue
> > about my embrace of our LGBT community is one of those. Now we have a
> > worldwide community problem.
> > >
> > > I can say I support all of God's children until I'm blue in the face,
> > but that doesn't seem to mean much when faced with a determination to
> > obfuscate the truth. In fact, what is most disturbing is a portion of a
> > letter I just read about one of our beloved partners in ministry, St.
> > Luke's in the Fields Episcopal Church down the street in Greenwich
> Village.
> > It seems to say that as the Dean, I discourage worship there and steer
> > seminarians away. Let me give some facts:
> > >
> > > - I have personally worshiped at St. Luke's (and given money) several
> > times since coming to New York. Most recently was late this summer in
> > August. Taking communion from the common cup in line with everyone else
> is
> > part of what we do to signal oneness. That morning at 8am, it was my
> > delight to join that assembled community just like I always do at the
> > Lord's table. Communion with all of God's people makes us one. All =
> one. I
> > look forward to returning.
> > >
> > > - We have had, do have, and will have seminarians at St. Luke's. I hope
> > that continues forever. In fact, late this summer when one of our seniors
> > decided to enter a Wisdom Year Residency pilot, I personally contacted
> St.
> > Luke's rector to make sure she did not feel General was leaving them in
> the
> > lurch. She assured me they did not feel that way whatsoever. I then asked
> > our Field Education coordinator to see if we had a seminarian who needed
> a
> > last-minute placement at St. Luke's. I support the ministry of St. Luke's
> > in worship, on the street, and in the world.
> > >
> > > - I suspect St. Luke's also feels my support. When their long-time
> > associate rector recently announced a new calling thereby leaving St.
> > Luke's, the rector contacted me (and others, I suspect) for assistance in
> > identifying new candidates. I look forward to helping them find the right
> > candidate for their rich ministry.
> > >
> > > - I have never discouraged anyone from worshiping anywhere. One of the
> > joys of this metropolitan area of 8 million people is that there are over
> > 400 Episcopal churches in commuting distance. All are open to our
> > seminarians. If you are reading this letter and interested in trying a
> LGBT
> > welcoming church, please try one of ours, including St. Luke's. We
> welcome
> > all of God's people... and so do I.
> > >
> > > Here at General, we have LGBT students. Some were just recently
> > ordained. Joy for them and the flocks they will serve. But, it doesn't
> just
> > stop with enrolling, graduating, and ordaining LGBT seminarians. General
> is
> > community for all of us.
> > >
> > > For example, over the past six months or so, I personally approved a
> > blessing of an upcoming same gender union in the seminary's Chapel of the
> > Good Shepherd. Even though my own bishop (as some do) prohibits his
> clergy
> > from participating in same gender blessings and I cannot officiate, I
> told
> > the couple I will attend and sit in the Dean's Stall as a powerful symbol
> > of my approval of this for General Seminary. By this action, I am
> following
> > my own beliefs, what the Episcopal Church and General Seminary embrace as
> > the current openness of our denomination, and my ordination vows of
> > obedience to my bishop, even when I disagree with him. I take all three
> > very seriously.
> > >
> > > While the allegation of "gay seminary" bleeds into the next section
> > about some of the allegations against me, it has immediate importance
> here.
> > Let me address it head-on.
> > >
> > > Since I have arrived at General I have been very clear in frequent
> > public and private gatherings that my number one goal is to make sure
> > meaning attaches to the word "general" in our title. We are the General
> > Theological Seminary; not the specific seminary. I have said it to our
> > Board, Executive Committee, Alumni Council, students, potential donors,
> and
> > anyone who will listen. But it always always always always comes with the
> > following: "that said, this is not 'code word' for anything; General (or
> > sometimes "normal") means young/old... rich/poor... gay/straight...
> > white/black... male/female... General means general." I almost say it
> that
> > way verbatim each time because I know how that could be misconstrued. I
> > know some of you have heard this statement because this is precisely what
> > is now being complained about.
> > >
> > > When people allege that I said I don't want General to be the "gay
> > seminary," I have said that. But it is only said in the context of just
> the
> > gay seminary. That "just" connotation is an essential part of the entire
> > message. In fact, I also combine it with "high church" or "Anglo
> Catholic"
> > or "male" or "female" or even "evangelical" seminary, just for good
> > measure. General needs to be general, not specific. All of God's
> children,
> > whether you are LGBT or not, are part of general. Have I said that enough
> > now?
> > >
> > > We are all one and need to be treated as one. One means one. One.
> > >
> > > I support our LGBT community without condition. Period.
> > >
> > > Allegations against me
> > >
> > > Some of you have read that eight faculty members have made general and
> > specific allegations against words I have used and an atmosphere which
> has
> > emerged at General. I welcome the on-going investigation and to comment
> > specifically here (other than the very important correction about LGBT
> > issues, above), would be contrary to the Board's request of my silence
> > pending conclusion of their investigation. However, I can say that there
> > are three categories of things the eight faculty allege: (1) things that
> I
> > said and I stand behind them; (2) things which are so contorted,
> misquoted,
> > or detatched from context that they are repeated in a "false light;" and
> > (3) things which are just not true.
> > >
> > > That said, I'm also sure something or somethings will emerge which I
> > would like to put differently next time. Why? Because I'm human. But none
> > of those wanted do-overs involve the egregious allegations.
> > >
> > > I welcome the unfolding of the inquiry.
> > >
> > > Faculty Employment
> > >
> > > I know there is a firestorm around the issues regarding faculty
> > employment. I did not participate in any of the meetings, was not present
> > for the discussion or votes, and discovered the Board's various actions
> > after the faculty (and perhaps some of you) learned of them. I can't
> > comment further on anything relating to faculty employment because I have
> > not been involved in that aspect.
> > >
> > > Massive Changes in Theological Education and at General Seminary
> > >
> > > Let me close with a few comments about the massive changes underway in
> > theological education and how they are being unfolded at General.
> > >
> > > When I arrived, the seminary had not had a Dean and President for over
> > three years since my predecessor retired, was emerging from a $42 million
> > un-funded debt crisis of enormous proportion, had an annual cash deficit
> of
> > $3 million a year with only three years of operating reserves in the
> bank,
> > and an unsustainably small number of students (great students, by the
> way)
> > in the entering class. Despite a rapidly changing church which was
> yearning
> > for leadership and vision, our response was to continue doing what we had
> > always done, just do it better. Virtually everyone - especially the
> Board -
> > recognized that would not work.
> > >
> > > While those facts apply to General, we are not alone. Nationwide,
> > seminaries are facing enormous pressure, not just financial but
> missional.
> > We need to reclaim our relevance to the world. The world is counting on
> us
> > to teach about life in Christ in a language which can be understood.
> > Counting on us. Counting on us.
> > >
> > > Last year we cut the defecit in half, extended the effectiveness of the
> > operating reserves from two to four more years, with the Board's help
> > crafted a vision of maximizing our unique place in the New York
> > metropolitan area with The Wisdom Year, and empowered the faculty to
> expand
> > on that into the classroom by integrating learning with the Way of
> Wisdom.
> > For the first time in years, the Church responded with audible applause:
> we
> > had 34 new students this year! The uncharacteristicly early interest in
> > admissions (until this week) for next year is additional proof of the
> > pudding: the eating is good.
> > >
> > > All of this was possible because of the clarity of the mission which
> the
> > Board recognized in order for General to move forward. I don't mean just
> > the necessary financial directions (like the fast-paced
> deficit-eliminating
> > directions to me), but the clear mandate to make any and all changes
> > necessary to reform General into usefulness for the future of our
> church, a
> > future not even known to our own church leaders. The decisions and
> > leadership I have been able to exercise were because the Board gave me
> the
> > tools necessary: a clear governance structure, a mandate to create order,
> > health and vision, and the affirmation needed to make swift, clear, and
> > difficult decisions.
> > >
> > > All of this was in increasing opposition to many entrenched interests
> > eager (and vocal) to return to the "way it used to be at General." Have
> you
> > ever heard that at your own church/business/community? My own leadership
> > style of consultation rather than collaboration created conflict, yet
> again
> > and again allows us to move forward by having the ability to make
> > decisions. The myriad external pressures (shrinking denomination; expense
> > of operation; purposefully low tuition; limited housing; etc.) also
> > increase tension, but we have to face them head-on or they will swallow
> us
> > up.
> > >
> > > Finally, the recognition that despite anyone's best efforts of
> polishing
> > our current mission, it is absolutely financially unsustainable into even
> > the near future without continued major shifts and changes. Again:
> > continued major shifts and changes. Without those which are ongoing and
> yet
> > to be started, the required significant outside fundraising simply has no
> > reasonable chance of success. Professionals tell me that "no one wants to
> > get an institution out of a hole; they all want to build on a mountain."
> I
> > look forward to helping all our stakeholders build that mountain, but not
> > until we deal with our structural problems.
> > >
> > > So, just "coming back to work" means entering an environment which will
> > continue to shift and change in massive ways. Why? Because we must
> embrace
> > those uncertain changes or we will go out of business. "Coming back to
> > work" better mean coming back with eyes open that the pressures will only
> > increase for all of us, some felt more personally than others. But also
> > come back with a hopefulness given by Jesus himself that the Church is
> not
> > finished with General.
> > >
> > > Telling and hearing deep truths is difficult. Acting upon those deep
> > truths is even more difficult. Another one of those important truths is
> > that we have many more choices to make to bring General forward to have a
> > sustainable future and be useful and attractive to the church and the
> > world, not to mention financially viable beyond the horizon of our
> > available cash. Each new decision will require speed and clarity.
> Whomever
> > is the Dean and President needs to continue to have those tools
> available.
> > >
> > > Conclusion
> > >
> > > I feel very supported by the Board and many of you in this
> unprecedented
> > undertaking. I know they and you feel my support as well. Support, not
> > ambush, will move the Body of Christ forward.
> > >
> > > Thank you for reading this. I know some (the part about General and
> > theological education) is "inside baseball" and of little interest to the
> > worldwide church. But, it all gives context to our particular storms.
> Yet,
> > the important message I really want to make sure you hear today - because
> > to remain silent compounds the hurt already being inflicted - is that
> all,
> > all, all, all of God's children are welcome in our Episcopal Church,
> > General Seminary, and in my life. All means all, LGBT community included.
> > >
> > > I hope this brings some peace, particularly to those who may be wounded
> > by what is swirling around.
> > >
> > > Kurt+
> > >
> > > The Very Rev. Kurt H. Dunkle
> > > Dean and President | The General Theological Seminary of The Episcopal
> > Church
> > >
> > >
> >
>