An openly gay Gordon College student has resigned from a working group that was formed last fall by President Michael Lindsay in response to criticism about the college's policies regarding homosexual activity.
Jesse Steele, a 21-year-old senior at Gordon College, posted a resignation letter online this week, citing numerous concerns he has with the working group's governance. You can read Steele's letter here.
Rick Sweeney, a spokesman for Gordon College, described Steele's comments as his "personal perspective."
"It's not one that's shared by other members of the group," Sweeney said .
Sweeney said that, as a member of the working group, Steele's role was to "advocate for" the other sexual minorities who were not present at the meetings and may not even be present on Gordon College's campus.
Steele's resignation is the latest twist in the ongoing saga that started last July at Gordon College when Lindsay endorsed a plan seeking an exemption from federal regulations that prohibit hiring discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Last September, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, or NEASC, which is an accrediting body, held a discussion about Gordon College and its policies. NEASC has given Gordon College a year to review the policy and report back. The working group was formed as Gordon College responded to NEASC's concerns.