SEC/2016/2/0175
Chaplains at Lancaster University:
Code of Appointment and Conduct
1.Scope of the document
Chaplains have exercised a ministry in the University since its foundation. Since its opening in May 1969, the physical base for this ministry has been the Chaplaincy Centre. The Chaplaincy Centre is open to people of any faith or none, and chaplains exercise a broad ministry that goes far beyond the confines of their own faith or denomination. This document sets out the University’s expectations and requirements in relation to the Chaplains.
The religious bodies encompassed by the Centre and/or active on campus are numerous and diverse in provision of support to staff and students. There are:
- churches that provide University Chaplains;
- religious organisations that donot provide University Chaplains, but that are named in the covenant or the Chaplaincy Centre Constitution, especially those that paid for the original building or who have always provided Associate Chaplains and been involved in decision-making from the outset;
- religious organisations that donot provide University Chaplains and are not named in the covenant or the Chaplaincy Centre Constitution, but who nevertheless provide Associate Chaplains, or contact persons;
- religious groups, not named in the covenant, who are active on campus, and may use the Centre, but do not as yet provide any chaplaincy, and in many instances work through formal or informal student societies and representatives.
2.The Chaplains
Definitions
1.University Chaplains (UCs) are full- and part-time Chaplains funded and supported by a specific denomination or religious tradition (or an identifiable body such as Churches Together in Lancashire). They are accountable both to their own religious body and, through the Board of Trustees, to the University, for their work on campus. The University Chaplains constitute a working team sharing day-to-day responsibilities on campus with joint planning, and division of responsibility according to expertise and interest.
2.Associate or Visiting Chaplains (ACs) are volunteers appointed by religious bodies, through the proper channels described below, to work in the University alongside and in partnerships with the UCs team, and with the guidance of the Chaplaincy Management Committee. They are accountable both to their own religious body and, through the Chaplaincy Centre Management Committee, to the University, for their work on campus.
For clarity in the rest of this document no distinction will be made between UCs and ACs, ‘Chaplains’ will refer to both categories.
3.The Relationship between the University and Chaplaincy
Chaplains do not currently receive any remuneration or expenses from the University, but are funded, in some instances, by their appointing bodies. Whilst the University is a secular institution, it recognises and welcomes chaplaincy work as a valuable complement to the other services which are provided on campus for the welfare, in the widest sense, of students and staff. Chaplains are free to establish contacts through the campus to that end. To facilitate this, the University has committed to maintaining the Chaplaincy Centre building, and will provide the University Chaplains with access to the Lancaster University email services, and Associate Chaplains with access to the Lancaster University email services, where requested at time of appointment.
4.Appointment and Accountability
Chaplains are appointed by their own faith communities. Currently these are the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster, the Anglican Diocese of Blackburn and the Lancashire Methodist District. In principle, other faith communities could appoint chaplains on a similar basis to those already in the chaplaincy team, subject to consultation with the University and the Chaplaincy Centre Management Committee.
The University expects that the faith communities will:
- involve their Diocesan Ecumenical Officers (or equivalent) in their appointment processes: the Chaplaincy Centre is an ecumenicalmulti-faith centre;
- enable existing Chaplain team members to meet with potential appointees: the stability of the team is important to the University;
- give students and staff the opportunity to meet the potential appointees, as recipients of ministry;
- consider any feedback from these groups.
Chaplains are in a position of trust and therefore all bodies providing and/or sponsoring Chaplains are responsible for ensuring that appropriate safeguarding policies and practices for working with children and vulnerable adults are followed. The University requires each chaplain to undergo a DBS check and clearance for working with vulnerable adults and children before taking up active ministry on campus.
Chaplains are accountable, in the first instance, to their appointing bodies for their work on campus. They also report to the Board of Trustees.
All chaplains are expected to respect the faith and practices of the other Chaplains and members of their faiths/denominations, and of other staff and students on campus, and will be asked to sign agreement to the ‘Policy of Religious and Spiritual Matters on the campus of Lancaster University ’.
Each religious body providing Chaplains is responsible for training, supervision and insurance for public liability and activities to be undertaken by the Chaplain. The University assumes that each faith body will undertake appraisals of their Chaplains on at least an annual basis.
The University may, through the Vice-Chancellorfor just reason, require the appointing body to withdraw its Chaplains.
5.Appointments of Chaplains to religious groups not previously represented
Applications for the appointment of a chaplain from a religious group not previously represented on campus should be made initially to the Chaplaincy Centre Management Committee who will liaise with the University through a Senior Nominated Officer.
The appointment of new chaplains will be dependent on consideration of such matters as training, accountability structures within the religious body represented, experience, ability to work within a multi-denominational, multi-faith context, and adequate support by the sponsoring body for such things as expenses of office and insurance.
6.The Scope of Chaplaincy Work
Emphases within chaplaincy work vary according to the gifts and calling of different chaplains. Chaplaincy may include the provision of worship, pastoral care and faith nurture of those within the traditions represented. Beyond that, the Chaplains team is committed to:
(a)pastoral availability to all members of the University community, students and staff regardless of denomination, belief or faith;
(b)co-operation with other staff engaged in student welfare work;
(c)provision of appropriate rituals for rites of passage and any situations of crisis in the lives of individuals, the University community, or the worldwide community;
(d)active membership of Colleges;
(e)participation in the annual Intro Week programme;
(f)as key members of the Chaplaincy Centre Management Committee, playing a major role in the ‘guardianship’ and administration of the Chaplaincy Centre as an ecumenical, multi-faith resource for the University community.
(g)supporting the life of the University as an international, multi-cultural and multi-faith community;
(h)participation in the life of the whole campus and contribution to debate about issues affecting it;
(i)offering advice to the University regarding religious groups operating on campus (whether or not student-led).
7.Safeguarding
All those working in a paid or voluntarycapacity in the Chaplaincy Centre must abide by the University safeguarding policies for vulnerable adults and children.
Lancaster University requires all those who work directly in or from the Chaplaincy Centre with its staff and students to hold the following:
(a)a job role and description for Chaplains which should be drawn up in accordance with this Code of Appointment and Conduct;
(b)DBS Certificate;
(c)evidence of the right to work in the UK (UK Passport, work permit or other evidence) from the sponsoring body which guarantees that a person is suitable and qualified to perform the tasks specified in the job role and description.
The University expects that each Chaplain (Resident or Associate), on appointment to the University, will sign a copy of this Code and the Policy for Religious and Spiritual Matters on the campus of Lancaster University.
8.Chaplains may not engage with any chaplaincy work on campus until the full safeguarding paperwork has been received by the University and copies received of the Code and the Policy for Religious and Spiritual Matters on the campus of Lancaster University.
Signed:…………………………………
Name:…………………………………..
Date:…………………………………….
Amended January 2016