3 October 2014 A.D. NYC: General Theological Seminary’s Dean Dunkle Responds to Attackers
3 October 2014 A.D. NYC: General Theological Seminary’s Dean Dunkle Responds to Attackers
Dean
Dunkle responds to his accusers
Author:
Dunkle, Kurt. “Dean Dunkle responds to his
accusers.” Anglican Ink. 3 Oct
2014. http://anglicanink.com/article/dean-dunkle-responds-his-accusers. Accessed 3 Oct 2014.
Dean
Dunkle responds to his accusers
03 Oct 2014
Author:
Kurt Dunkle
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
Dean and President | The General Theological Seminary of The Episcopal Church
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