Christian college's entire faculty senate resigns over denial of promotion to pro-gay professor

All seven members of Gordon College's faculty senate reportedly resigned from their post as senators earlier this month after a faculty member was denied promotion for denouncing the school's policy on homosexuality.

The members of the senate announced their resignation at a meeting on April 5, citing the ongoing disagreement with the Massachusetts evangelical school's administration over the approval process for promoting a faculty member.

The joint resignation letter was read aloud by Ivy George, the chair of the faculty senate, during the all-faculty meeting, The Christian Post reported.

"Provost [Janel] Curry was provided with a copy of a letter from the Senate when they met with her a few hours before the faculty meeting," said Rick Sweeney, Gordon College Vice President of Communications, in an email to the school newspaper The Tartan.

"They were not open to further discussion on their decision, which they announced to their faculty colleagues at the end of the regular monthly meeting late Wednesday afternoon," he added.

The senate is composed of a group of faculty members that were elected to deal with hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, reviews, and tenure.

The rift between the faculty senate and the school administration reportedly began last month after a complaint was filed to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination against the school.

In the complaint, assistant sociology professor Margaret DeWeese-Boyd alleged that the college's president, Michael Lindsay, and Provost Curry denied her promotion to full professor because she openly criticized a policy that prohibits students and staff members from engaging in homosexual activity.

Apart from speaking out against the school's policy, DeWeese-Boyd had also organized events that advocated for "safety and inclusion" of LGBT students and staff members at the school.

Despite the approval of the faculty senate for DeWeese-Boyd's promotion to full professor, Lindsay and Curry reportedly denied the promotion in February.

The senators stated in their resignation letter that they felt Curry and Lindsay were not following the guidelines regarding faculty promotion as indicated in the school's administrative handbook.

After the meeting, Curry told the faculty that "my perspective and interpretation of the situation is very different than theirs and I will need some time to explore how we bridge the gap in perspectives."

Sweeney stated that the college has a "strong and pointed disagreement" about DeWeese-Boyd's allegations, but the declined to offer further comment about the disagreement because he said it was a "personal issue."