On Monday, University Chaplain Adam Bunnell, O.F.M., Conv. announced his resignation, effective June 30, 2002. Bunnell stated that he was “convinced that this is the right step for [him] at this time” in his letter of resignation, but did not elaborate on his future plans.
“After giving the matter considerable thought, and after discussing my plans with President DeGioia, I have decided to resign as University Chaplain,” Bunnell said in his letter. “I do so with some sadness but I am convinced that this is the right step for at time.”
Bunnell outlined the goals that he had made for the Office of Campus Ministry upon his arrival in 1997, which included actively promoting the University’s Catholic identity, supporting interfaith dialogue, strengthening the spiritual life of students and streamlining the management and budgetary process of OCM.
“I believe I have made significant progress on all these fronts and I take great pride and pleasure in all the work that you have done for this community to support these goals,” Bunnell said.
In a letter to the faculty, University President John J. DeGioia expressed his appreciation for Bunnell’s work as university chaplain.
“Adam has served with dedication … and has led Campus Ministry during a period of change and challenges,” DeGioia said.
DeGioia noted Bunnell’s work to promote Georgetown’s Catholic identity during his time here, as well as his leadership in Campus Ministry’s response to Sept. 11, his hiring of the first full-time Muslim Chaplain at a Catholic university and his role in expanding the University’s Jewish ministry.
Since coming to Georgetown in 1997, Bunnell has faced his share of criticism from students, colleagues and administrators.
In April 1999, students protested Bunnell’s dismissal of four full-time Protestant ministers for the following year. In their place, Bunnell hired part-time replacements. At the time, Bunnell justified his decision based on budget constraints.
In May 2001, Michael Garanzini, S.J., then-Special Assistant to then-University President Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J., conducted an internal review of Campus Ministry after numerous complaints from staff members and students about Bunnell. The Voice reported that a letter was sent on April 16, 2001 from former Georgetown University Student Association President Tawan Davis (CAS ‘01) to O’Donovan, stating that he wished “to outline general concerns that include a lack of professionalism, a pattern of unclear appropriation of funds, maltreatment of students and continued demoralization of chaplains and staff.” The letter was co-signed by eight leaders of Campus Ministry organizations.
Specific concerns addressed in the letter included accusations of Bunnell’s frequent verbal badgering of Protestant Minister Rev. Constance Wheeler, attempts to remove Rabbi Harold White and Bunnell’s creation of an uncomfortable work environment by intimidating ministers through repeated threats of termination and open verbal harrassment.
“Maybe two or three people had a bad relationship with him and made the rumors … That is not the general feeling in campus ministry,” Muslim Chaplain Yahya Hendi said. “The general feeling is that he is a supportive, nice and organized person.”
Vice President for Communications Julie Green Bataille said that she was not aware that any formal document was ever created from the internal review process.
“As many offices on campus routinely do, Campus Ministry engaged in private dialogue with faculty, staff and students about ways to enhance services to the community,” Bataille said. “Over the past few years … Campus Ministry has worked hard to support many members of our community in numerous ways: hiring a Muslim Imam, expanding Jewish ministry, broadening services to Catholic and Protestant students and supporting interfaith dialogue on campus.”
Co-chair of the Catholic Student Association Jessica Wible (CAS ‘02) acknowledged the problems stemming from Bunnell’s leadership, but said that CSA had never personally experienced problems with him. “While we recognize the validity of other students’ complaints, Father Bunnell has always been extremely supportive of all of our organization’s activities,” Wible said. “[To] be honest, were it not for him, the CSA might not even be in existence today.”
CSA Co-chair John Slattery (CAS ‘04) agreed, saying, “Father Bunnell has done the best that he could in the midst of a pressuring and inefficient administrative system.”
Jewish Students Association President David Gold (MSB ‘04) said that the organization had “started the year with a really bad taste in our mouth” due to Bunnell’s decision to cut the Jewish ministry budget by more than 50 percent. Gold said that the JSA’s relationship with Bunnell had been positive since then, particularly during its interactions in the weeks following Sept. 11.
Gold said that he knew that former JSA presidents had experienced problems working with Bunnell in the past, but said that this had not been the case for him. “Everything I’ve wanted to do as JSA president, he’s approved,” Gold said. “I really can’t complain.”
“I don’t think [Bunnell] wants to make the University completely Catholic. I think he’s open to other religions on campus … [though] I don’t know how much more supportive than that he’s been,” Gold said.
Bunnell was unavailable to comment on the criticism he has experienced, but acknowledged in his letter that his time at Georgetown has not been a smooth ride.
“Our work together has not always been easy but no dream can be fulfilled without struggle along the way,” Bunnell said. “We have dared to think that people though divided by differences and misunderstanding might sit down at a table together. We have dared to believe that we could learn from one another, be strengthened in our faith through each other, show the world that, not just begrudged tolerance, but true affection and respoect for difference could unite us.”
DeGioia said that he planned to employ the same process used to fill other senior-level University positions. He specified that students, faculty, administrators and alumni will be asked to participate in the recruitment process.
“We will seek to identify candidates with distinguished careers in ministry and academics who understand the unique culture and character of Georgetown,” DeGioia said.
I came across this eight years after it was written. I knew Adam Bunnell well during his time at Georgetown. The criticisms of him were unfounded. As but one example of an issue addressed in this article, his proposal to cut funding for Jewish ministry on campus by over 50%, Bunnell told me of his conversation with the head full-time Jewish ministry man (I do not know his name or title). Bunnell asked him how many students had come to him seeking any kind of help, support, anything at all in the last year. The guy reported that not one student had sought anything from him, yet warned Bunnell that trouble would come should any attempt to cut the budget be made. Obviously trouble did come, but was Bunnell wrong to think that the budget should be cut for an organization that did nothing that it was allegedly created to do? Georgetown needs a non-Catholic as head of its ‘ministry’ programs, somebody for whom multi-culti is a religion in itself, to be believed in even when it strains rationality. Best to stick with Jesuits.
Today I came across this posted article and was shocked to learn of Father Adam Bunnell’s departure from Georgetown University. He was my professor at Bellarmine University back in the 90’s. He would be described as highly intelligent, dedicated to teaching, and working with students from all backgrounds. But even in academia, politics trades places with rationality in exchange for financial favoritism. What a shame. But politics makes strange bedfellows. This is water under the bridge at this late date, however, at my age, having suffered several strokes, I still stand proud of having known him over the years. At this time, during the corona virus pandemic, what good is the money when you don’t have students to minister to. So, pray for peace, pray for God’s mercy on us, and pray for all those who are suffering during these hard times. GOD DOES ANSWER KNEEmail.