A group of pastors came together Friday to ask God for healing as Limestone County Schools determines what action it will take in regard to Tanner High School Principal Louis Gordon, who was placed on administrative leave Monday.

A handful of pastors and church leaders gathered outside the Limestone County Schools’ Central Office in downtown Athens. Pastor Eddie Walton, of New Beginnings Covenant Ministries in Belle Mina, said the pastors’ mission was one of prayer and silent protest.

“Our real purpose was to come and gather and really seek God,” Walton said. “We truly believe God has to intervene in this whole situation. We believe God can change the hearts of men and women and unite us as a community, and we believe that through prayer we can get that done.”

Jacob Chandler, associate pastor at Tanner First Baptist Church, said he was there as a neutral party.

Walton cited a statement made Monday by Superintendent Dr. Tom Sisk that Gordon was being placed on leave because of the culture and climate at the school. Walton said the pastors didn’t know what Sisk meant but wanted Gordon to see a climate of support.

Walton has been personally affected by the climate at Tanner because he has a daughter and sister who attend Tanner High. He, like other Gordon supporters, believe the principal has made positive changes at the school.

“We’ve seen all the improvements, and we’ve seen the things Mr. Gordon has done (that are) positive,” Walton said. “We know he hasn’t done it all by himself. We know our teachers are doing a good job and our students are working hard. He’s implementing some things that were already in the rule books he was asked to do.”

All those factors combined have led to what Gordon’s supporters believe is an improvement in overall academic achievement. Sisk said Thursday that has yet to be determined, because students have not taken their end-of-year tests.

Walton said he and others would like Gordon to stay if “it works out.” He and those who gathered Friday simply asked for God’s will be to be done.

“(We) prayed that God would speak to the hearts and move on the hearts of all the people involved and that unity could be provided,” he said. “We want healing to take place in our community and our school system.”