The Intake Officer of the Diocese of Florida has, with the concurrence of the Bishop Samuel Johnson Howard, dismissed a Title IV complain brought against the dean of The General Theological Seminary.
Bishop Mark Sisk, President of the Seminary’s Board of Trustee,s wrote a letter to the Board which has been posted on Facebook:
Attached please find a notice of dismissal of the Title IV complaint brought against Dean and President Kurt Dunkle in The Episcopal Diocese of Florida. The dismissal is based on a report by the Title IV Intake Officer and the findings were accepted by the Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard, the bishop of the Dean’s canonical residence.
The allegations against Dean Dunkle have been now been thoroughly reviewed from an ecclesiastical, administrative and legal perspective by us and by two independent parties, who agreed that this matter should be dismissed.
This brings to a close a difficult chapter in the history of the General Theological Seminary that has caused great distress to everyone who loves this Seminary, including Dean Dunkle and his family. Two years ago the Board charged Dean Dunkle with the difficult but vital mission of ensuring that the Seminary can continue as a viable institution missionally and financially. The Board continues to recognize that the status quo is simply not sustainable.
Under Dean Dunkle’s leadership, the Seminary has made significant progress in carrying out the Board’s directive to address our daunting financial challenges and implement our vision of how we educate and form a new generation of Church leaders to take on the pressing issues of a changing world. We all recognize that the work of change agents in times of dire need is not always appreciated.
The Board expressed its full support of Dean Dunkle following the completion of the independent legal review it commissioned, and today, we reaffirm that support and thank him for his efforts. For the good of the institution, its students, and the Church, the entire Seminary must now come together. The Lombard Peace Process is facilitating that effort.
There is much left to do, and more change ahead. It is time to fully focus on building on our strong legacy of serving the Church.
Please feel free to share this letter with others who may express interest or concerns.
Posted by Andrew Gerns