Editing General Theological Seminary (section)

=== 21st century ===
[[File:Chelsea Enclave from south crop.jpg|thumb|left|Chelsea Enclave, a residential condominium which replaced Sherrill Hall]]

A renovation and expansion of the seminary's buildings facing 10th Avenue was completed in 2007, when the Desmond Tutu Center opened. Named for [[Desmond Tutu]], former visiting professor at GTS and retired archbishop of the [[Anglican Church of Southern Africa|Church of the Province of Southern Africa]], the Tutu Center operates primarily as a hotel and conference center.

In 2007 the seminary engaged in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, along with general operating costs, by converting many of its buildings to [[Geothermal heating|geothermal heating and cooling]].<ref>[http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=44802 "General Seminary begins major environmental initiative, converts to energy-efficient geothermal system"] Web Wire.  Retrieved July 23, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/nyregion/19about.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion "Contemplating Heaven, but Drilling Deep Down"] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved July 23, 2011.</ref>

Also in 2007, the seminary, in need of funds, sold Sherrill Hall, a 1960s building along 9th Ave to the Brodsky Organization for the construction of a residential [[Condominium (living space)|condominium]] building.  The Chelsea Enclave was completed in 2010 and contains 53 residential units as well as retail space, an underground parking garage, and the seminary's new Keller Library. The seminary's main entrance is now located on 21st Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.<ref>[http://ny.curbed.com/tags/chelsea-enclave "Chelsea Enclave"] Curbed. Retrieved December 5, 2010.</ref>

Still facing financial difficulties, General Theological Seminary engaged in its ''Plan to Choose Life'', a strategic initiative which necessitates the sale of several properties: 422 West 20th Street, the Chelsea 2,3,4 building, and the West Building.  Assets from the sales were expected to eliminate the seminary's debt, rebuild its depleted endowment, and restore it to financial solvency.<ref>[http://gts.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1116:gts-trustees-enact-plan-for-restructuring&catid=68:frontpage-news "GTS Trustees Enact Plan for Restructuring"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324140338/http://gts.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1116:gts-trustees-enact-plan-for-restructuring&catid=68:frontpage-news |date=2012-03-24 }} General Theological Seminary. Retrieved July 23, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.gts.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1078:gts-next&catid=1:featured "GTS Next: Plan to Choose Life Updates"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926234219/http://www.gts.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1078:gts-next&catid=1:featured |date=2011-09-26 }} General Theological Seminary. Retrieved July 23, 2011.</ref>

==== 2014 unionization ====
In September 2014, eight of the seminary's ten full-time faculty announced their intention to unionize<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/seminaries/a_gts_trustee_reflects_on_the.html |title=A GTS Trustee reflects on the crisis at the Seminary |last1=Gerns |first1=Andrew |date=September 29, 2014 |website=EpiscopalCafe.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005220001/http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/seminaries/a_gts_trustee_reflects_on_the.html |archive-date=2014-10-05 |access-date=2005-10-05 }}</ref> and their intention to absent themselves from teaching and worship, alleging harassment and bullying behavior from Dean Kurt Dunkle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/02/nyregion/labor-dispute-leaves-professors-jobless.html |title=Seeking Dean's Firing, Seminary Professors End Up Jobless |last1=Otterman |first1=Sharon |date=October 1, 2014 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2005-10-05 }}</ref> In a letter to the Board of Trustees on September 17, the eight faculty alleged that Dunkle had repeatedly made racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks; made unprofessional comments about faculty members: compromised the confidentiality of student records; and responded to staff who complained of his behavior by threatening their jobs. 

The protesting faculty warned that unless the Board agreed to meet to discuss the allegations, the eight would be obliged to absent themselves from teaching, meetings, and worship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/seminaries/gts_faculty_respond_with_websi.html |title=Striking GTS faculty launch website concerning their actions |last1=Fontaine |first1=Ann |date=October 5, 2014 |website=EpiscopalCafe.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005221523/http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/seminaries/gts_faculty_respond_with_websi.html |archive-date=2014-10-05 |access-date=2005-10-05 }}</ref> In response, the Board of Trustees of the seminary treated the letter as a mass resignation, which it accepted on September 29.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/seminaries/general_seminary_trustees_rele.html |title=General Seminary trustees release first statement on conflict |last1=Fontaine |first1=Ann |date=September 30, 2014 |website=EpiscopalCafe.com |access-date=2005-10-05 }}</ref> The faculty contested this characterization, noting that no resignations were tendered, and published the details of their grievances online, including the original September 17 letter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.religionnews.com/2014/09/30/tensions-flare-between-the-episcopal-churchs-oldest-seminary-leadership-and-faculty/ |title=Tensions at Episcopal Church's oldest seminary reflect larger crisis in future of theology schools |last1=Bailey |first1=Sarah |date= September 30, 2014 |website=EpiscopalCafe.com  |publisher=Religion News Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005223349/http://www.religionnews.com/2014/09/30/tensions-flare-between-the-episcopal-churchs-oldest-seminary-leadership-and-faculty/ |archive-date=2014-10-05 |access-date=2005-10-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.safeseminary.org/how-we-got-here.html |title=How We Got Here |author=Professors Davis, DeChamplain, Good, Hurd, Irving, Kadel, Lamborn, and Malloy |website=SafeSeminary.org |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141005224046/http://www.safeseminary.org/how-we-got-here.html |archive-date=2014-10-05 |access-date=2005-10-05}}</ref>

Citing the controversy roiling the seminary, a previously arranged series of lectures by [[Stanley Hauerwas]] were canceled when he declined to attend. Around the same time an online petition was established supporting the faculty, with hundreds of co-signers including theologians from all over the country who pledged not to speak at GTS until the terminated faculty were reinstated.<ref name=Hauerwas-declines>{{cite web |url=http://www.religionnews.com/2014/10/08/stanley-hauerwas-drops-general-theological-seminary-lecture-series-controversy/ |title=Stanley Hauerwas drops out of General Theological Seminary lecture series after controversy |last1=Bailey |first1=Pulliam |date=October 8, 2014 |website=Religion News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011094543/http://www.religionnews.com/2014/10/08/stanley-hauerwas-drops-general-theological-seminary-lecture-series-controversy/ |archive-date=2014-10-11 |access-date=2014-10-11 |quote=Theologian Stanley Hauerwas has declined a series of lectures he was scheduled to give at New York's General Theological Seminary in November in the wake of the crisis roiling the school. ... Some 900 scholars from across the country have signed a letter of support for the eight faculty, saying they will not lecture or speak at the seminary. Noteworthy scholars who signed the letter include James H. Cone of Union Theological Seminary, Gary Dorrien of Union Theological Seminary and Francis Schüssler Fiorenza of Harvard Divinity School.}}</ref>

==== 2020s ====
During the COVID-19 pandemic, like most other institutions of higher learning, GTS pivoted to virtual learning for the first time in its history. In 2021, the Board of Trustees authorized the seminary to launch a fully hybrid MDiv program, which welcomed its first cohort of students in 2022, and in 2023 replaced the residential program entirely.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General to begin hybrid programs Fall 2022 |url=https://www.gts.edu/seminary-news/hybridprograms |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=General Theological Seminary |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walton |first=Jeffrey |date=2023-03-01 |title=Episcopal Church General Seminary on the Ropes |url=https://juicyecumenism.com/2023/03/01/general-seminary/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Juicy Ecumenism |language=en-US}}</ref>

At the same time, under the leadership of Acting Dean and President Michael W. DeLashmutt, the Seminary Board entered into a formal process, aimed at assessing the Seminary's long-term financial and operational model. In 2022, a formal affiliation agreement was made between General Theological Seminary and Virginia Theological Seminary. While remaining separate institutions, the two seminaries now share a common leadership structure and support services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=The General Theological Seminary Sets Out its Plans for the Future {{!}} Virginia Theological Seminary |url=https://vts.edu/press-release/the-general-theological-seminary-sets-out-its-plans-for-the-future/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |language=en-US}}</ref> Although the affiliation was not characterized as a merger, 32 out of 40 members of the joint GTS/VTS board were from VTS, and the VTS president became the GTS president.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petersen |first=Kirk |date=2022-12-07 |title=Partnership Ensures Survival of a Smaller GTS |url=https://livingchurch.org/news/partnership-ensures-survival-of-a-smaller-gts/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=The Living Church |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:The Close of The General Theological Seminary.jpg|thumb|left|The interior "Close" of The General Theological Seminary in the summer]]

On September 6, 2024, [[Vanderbilt University]] entered into a lease agreement to occupy the seminary campus pending approval from the government authorities. Vanderbilt made it clear that General Theological Seminary would continue to occupy some space on the Chelsea campus, but would remain a separate entity.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hitson |first=Hadley |date=September 26, 2024 |title=Vanderbilt takes over New York seminary for nationwide expansion |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2024/09/26/tennessee-vanderbilt-new-york-seminary-nationwide-expansion/75397323007/ |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=The Tennessean}}</ref> GTS had previously sought to lease the campus to a Catholic-affiliated music school, but dropped the plan following opposition from local bishops, who expressed concern about "the lack of full acceptance of the LGBTQ stance of [the school's] founders."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paulsen |first=David |date=2024-04-11 |title=Bishops oppose General Seminary’s long-term lease with choral music school over LGBTQ+ inclusion concerns |url=https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2024/04/11/bishops-oppose-general-seminarys-long-term-lease-with-choral-music-school-over-lgbtq-inclusion-concerns/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Episcopal News Service |language=en-US}}</ref>