Members of the University’s Gospel Choir made a presentation to the Georgetown University Student Association Tuesday, asking for help in their ongoing conflict with Campus Ministry. The choir has been without a director since late September when then-director Derek Campbell resigned, just a few weeks after Campus Ministry eliminated funding for the choir’s assistant director-accompanist position, formerly held by Timothy Rice.
“We’d like to see GUSA do some kind of probe into [Campus Ministry] because there are some greater issues there,” said to Kristina Heuser (CAS ‘03), assistant Gospel Choir chaplain.
According to Gospel Choir Secretary Julia Chan (SFS ‘03), the problems are not personal but bureaucratic.
“There’s clearly some sort of bureaucratic problem in the campus ministry. We’ve had problems getting money from them before,” Chan said. “We don’t want to make a personal attack, rather we hope GUSA can help students become aware of the problem.”
After the presentation, GUSA assembly members expressed their support for the Gospel Choir.
“One of the things they voiced to the GUSA assembly was that they don’t feel comfortable approaching the people involved by themselves. They were looking for support in lobbying and going to meetings [with administrators involved],” said GUSA President Ryan DuBose (CAS ‘02). “We’re going to figure out a way they can feel comfortable addressing their issues to the full extent.”
Heuser outlined the series of events in the conflict at Tuesday night’s meeting. Earlier this fall, University Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry Adam Bunnell, OFM Conv., discharged Rice on account of “insufficient funds.”
Gospel Choir members questioned why Campus Ministry would not continue to fund their directors as they had in the past. When choir students questioned Bunnell about the lack of funding, he suggested that the Gospel Choir, a separate division within Protestant Ministry, start a fundraising initiative and hold benefit concerts to raise money.
Heuser expressed uneasiness with this idea at Tuesday’s meeting, citing the fact that Gospel Choir is “first and foremost” a ministry, and as such students should not be charged to attend.
Because the Gospel choir has been without a director since Campbell’s resignation in late September, the group had to cancel a concert in New York on Nov. 11 and was unable to perform at the inauguration for University President John J. DeGioia on Oct. 13.
The University is in the process of finding an interim director for the Gospel Choir so that the members can resume practice as soon as possible. As of Tuesday night’s GUSA meeting, members of the choir reported that they would have a temporary director for the group by Thursday of this week.
Additionally, Ronald J. Lignelli, director of Performing Arts, has begun the search for a permanent director.
Heuser reported that she didn’t know whether Campbell and Rice were being considered for the positions when asked by a GUSA committee member at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“As far as we know, [Campbell]’s not being considered [for the position] because he’s resigned from the University, and due to bureaucratic complications it’s not really possible for him to come back,” said Chan.
“As far as we’re concerned, Derek [Campbell] and Tim [Rice] are our directors,” Heuser said, emphasizing that their familiarity with the choir would bring needed stability to the group after a strenuous fall semester.
“We all feel that we have encountered too much politics,” said Heuser.
