In addition, Reasoner said Georgia Baptists were “deeply troubled” by news articles that discussed the Mercer Triangle Symposium, the school’s first gay student group, which held an event last month that included National Coming Out Day.

“More troubling was the disclosure that supporters (of the gay student group) included faculty and members in Mercer’s Department of Christianity,” the letter said.

“For these and many other reasons, Georgia Baptists from around the state recognize that Mercer and the convention have grown apart in their values and commitment and many Georgia Baptists have expressed their desire to end the relationship,” the statement said.