[Magdalen] D's letter

[Judy Fleener]

(sigh)


On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 9:50 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
> >
> >
>



-- 
Judy Fleener, ObJN
Western Michigan