From the GTS News website:
Response to GTS Students from Board of Trustees Chairman, Bishop Mark Sisk
POSTED ON OCTOBER 7, 2014 BY GTS NEWS
Dear Students,
Thank you for your insightful, caring, and helpful letter to the board. Your unique role in being on campus and hearing first hand from the various parties involved, in a situation which grieves us all deeply, is instructive. We thank you for your heartfelt words.
As stated in our letter of September 30th, our primary concern is all of you who put your faith in us and chose to attend General Seminary. We seek to foster its survival and thriving in a new era for the changing church in a changing world.
Please be assured that your Executive Committee is working non-stop behind the scenes in an effort to move as swiftly as possible toward reconciliation of the current crisis, the severity of which we first became aware just a few days prior to you. As the Body of Christ we can do no less.
Our prayers and genuine concern are with each and every one of you. Thank you for your witness and ministry.
Faithfully,
Bishop Mark Sisk
The letter written by the students has not been made public.
The Facebook Community LGBT at GTS later posted this:
On behalf of a group of the Student Body of General Theological Seminary, We are forced into a difficult position concerning the letter that was sent in confidence to the parties involved in General’s current situation. These parties included the Faculty, the Board of Trustees, & the Dean. It was the consensus of the Students to voice our concerns directly to the parties involved without going directly to social media and the general public. However, a response from the Chair of the Board to the Students’ Letter was published via GTS News before a majority of students who signed were able to read it seems troubling. This move has greatly saddened the student body, especially given no prior context that warrants a response. We, as future leaders and ministers of the Church, wished to express our varied concerns with the parties directly involved without public discussion. We are praying over all of this & continue to pray for reconciliation and peace. #PrayforGTS #GeneralSeminary
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It is true that replacement faculty have been brought in. This despite good faith efforts on the part of the faculty to return to their classes.
Is it true, as rumored, that new faculty are being hired even before the investigation of the Dean is completed or the GTS-8 have met with the Trustee’s Executive Committee?
At the Long Island Clericus, the bishop of same mentioned considering pulling LI seminarians out of General. How are other bishops reacting?