Episcopal bishops have protested a New York-based seminary which will have allowed a Catholic congregational group to hire house on its property due to the reported theologically conservative views of one in all its donors.
Seven bishops from the Episcopal Diocese of Lengthy Island and the Episcopal Diocese of New York issued an announcement objecting to The Basic Theological Seminary reaching a lease settlement with the Faculty of Sacred Music.
Based in 1817 and at the moment primarily based in New York, GTS joined Virginia Theological Seminary in 2022 on account of monetary issues.
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The diocese emailed a replica of an announcement to The Christian Put up this week through which the bishops mentioned they “opposed the lease settlement between” the seminary and SSM.
“We’re involved in regards to the lack of full acceptance of the LGBTQ stance of its founders and the shortage of transparency of its funding,” the assertion mentioned.
“We’re conscious of the tough monetary scenario of VTS/GTS with the Basic Seminary campus. We additionally make tough selections in regards to the future use of sacred areas. You will need to make selections that align with our mission and values. Human dignity is non-negotiable.”
Signatories to the letter embody New York Bishop Matthew Heyd, New York Bishop Suffragan Allen Ok. Shin, New York Bishop Assistant Mary D. Glasspool, Lengthy Island Bishop Lawrence Provenzano, Lengthy Island Assistant Bishop Geralyn Wolf, Lengthy Island Assistant Bishop Daniel Allotey and Lengthy Island Assistant Bishop R .William Franklin.
Based on the Episcopal Information Service, SSM is a gaggle of lay Roman Catholics and a subsidiary of the Ithuriel Fund, a nonprofit group with over $75 million in belongings.
One main donor is Colin Moran, chairman and president of the Institute for Faith and Public Life, which publishes the theologically conservative journal and web site First Issues.
The Christian Put up reached out to the Faculty of Sacred Music for this story. The group didn’t return remark by press time.
Nicky Burridge, a VTS spokesman, instructed CP that SSM has a short-term lease with the New York-based seminary that started final 12 months.
“Any association with SSM will probably be a enterprise deal, not a partnership or affiliation,” Burridge defined, including that negotiations are “ongoing.”
Burridge offered an announcement from GTS President, Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, who additionally serves as dean and president of VTS, who famous that stakeholders “perceive the bishops' issues and share their dedication to inclusivity.”
“We met with them to reassure them that we had been assured that we had achieved our due diligence,” Markham mentioned. “SSM adheres to the spirit of ecumenism and the inclusion of all folks. Even so, safeguards will probably be included in any settlement with SSM to make sure that Shut stays a welcoming house for LGBTQIA+ folks.
Based on an announcement issued by Markham final month, GTS had working bills of $7 million for fiscal 12 months 2023, however annual income of solely $4.3 million.
