|
|
|
|
|
« Return
|
|
Divinity school may have to return funds donated for chapel
2002-005-2
1/9/2002
|
[Episcopal News Service]
In the wake of a controversy over the handling of funds at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and the resignation of Dean William Franklin, donors who have pledged $3 million for a new chapel will be asked if they want their donations returned.
President Richard Levin of Yale University had sought Franklin's resignation for what university auditors said was 'a nearly complete lack of internal controls' at Berkeley but the seminary's board rebuffed the request and defended Franklin. Levin subsequently blocked Berkeley's move to the reconstructed Yale Divinity School, preventing Berkeley from developing plans to occupy two of the eight historic houses in the YDS quadrangle. One of the houses was meant to serve as a chapel and the other has offices for Berkeley.
'The board was highly annoyed at Levin's unilateral action,' said the Rev. Rowan Greer, a retired professor from YDS. 'There is a great deal of suspicion and distrust,' he told the New Haven Register. He said that there had been 'no misappropriation of funds. It was a sloppy system.'
One of 11 Episcopal seminaries, Berkeley has been affiliated with Yale Divinity School since 1971. Its students makeup about a third of the YDS student body. A university task force will study the future of the affiliation. Greer said that a Berkeley committee will try to work out new financial procedures with Yale.
|
|
|
|
|
|
