Two of the major religious forces on campus have spoken out urging the Harvard administration to negotiate with the protesters currently occupying Mass. Hall.

The United Ministry, an interfaith coalition encompassing nearly all religious groups on campus, endorsed an open letter signed by all 13 House masters calling for negotiations, and Peter J. Gomes, Plummer professor of Christian morals and minister in Memorial Church, has called for a peaceful end to the Mass. Hall sit-in, now entering its seventh day.

Gomes, who has won a great deal of administrative influence in his decades of service as Harvard's primary religious leader, said he is conflicted about the merits of the protesters' call for a minimum $10.25 per hour living wage for all Harvard employees, but is committed to ending the sit-in through discussion.

"There must be an exit strategy we could discuss ," Gomes said. He called for a peaceful resolution that would leave both sides content.

Similarly, the masters' letter, written Sunday and endorsed by the United Ministry last night, calls for an open dialogue.

"We suggest a face to face meeting between student leaders and the administration," the letter reads.

While the letter does not endorse a living wage, it does issue a strong statement of support for the 37 students occupying Mass. Hall.

"We appreciate the care and diligence of our students in bringing this issue of wages to the attention of the entire Harvard community in their work and written reports over the past two years. We have deep respect for their commitment to social and economic justice, and we support them in these commitments," the letter reads.