| Description | Minutes of a committee appointed by Senate in 1961 to recommend to Senate on all matters concerning the University Services which were then held regularly, but to also have the general responsibility of encouraging and co-ordinating the work of the Recognised Chaplains within the University. Previously, the University Service had been arranged by the Secretary on behalf of the Council, though after a Chair in Theology was established in 1940, responsibility had been shared, and in the years immediately before the establishment of the Recognised Chaplains Committee, an informal group including the Registrar been involved.
Membership of the Committee consisted of academic staff; and the recognised chaplains. Meetings were held two or three times a year. The first meeting was held on 23 June 1961
Initially, the Committee was largely concerned with the organisation of the University Services, and the minutes contain information about the order of service, location, preachers, and comment on individual services with reference to points raised by staff or students who had attended. Sometimes the minutes include printed copies of the order of service. There are references to meetings with local clergy, and to visits of faith leaders, though during the early 1960s the focus of the Committee was almost entirely on provision for members of the Christian faith and within that, on Anglican and Nonconformist beliefs. Minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 1963 mention a possible invitation to a Roman Catholic priest to preach at a University Service, but a decision had not been made by 1964 when the University Services had been discontinued.
The Committee discussed the recommendation of new chaplains, and occasionally personal and career information about individuals is included. The Committee also distributed postcards and later introductory leaflets to newly admitted students giving details about chaplaincy services provided at the University, and asking them to indicate their religious affiliations and whether they would want to meet a chaplain of that denomination. The minutes give statistical information about the number of postcards returned, divided by denomination. In the early 1960s there were Anglican, Baptist, Congregational, Jewish, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic chaplains
Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 1963 contain discussion about the provision of a chaplain for members of the Islamic faith, as there were then around 200 members of the Islamic Society at the University. There appears to have been no further discussion until 15 March 1971 when the minutes refer to the question of whether Muslim students might require a Recognised Chaplain. It was recorded that some Muslim students met in St Francis Hall, but they had apparently not asked for a Recognised Chaplain. Minutes of the meting held on 9 November 1971 discussed ministration to be available for Muslim students, and the possible recognition of Dr M. Naseem as an adviser on the Islamic faith. Discussion continued at the meeting held on 13 March 1971
Minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 1972 record a suggestion by Professor John Hick that as so many reply postcards from newly admitted students were from overseas students, the Committee might consider the possibility of the recognition of advisers of non-Christian faiths. Further discussion of this suggestion continued at meetings held in 1973 but it was recorded on 20 November 1973 that after discussions with Indian student societies, this was felt to be unnecessary. However, minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 1979 mention the appointment of an adviser to Hindu students
The Committee had strong links with the work of St Francis Hall, run by the Guild of Students. Minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 1961 contain a copy of a Memorandum to Guild Council on the future development of St Francis Hall, by the St Francis Hall Committee following a consultation with the chaplains, members of the Guild, members of faith based student societies, and members of academic staff, setting out proposals for the expansion of the centre (see UB/GUILD/A/21/3 for minutes of the St Francis Hall Committee). There are printed programmes for events held at St Francis Hall loosely inserted in the minutes for Spring 1965, and from Autumn 1967 to Summer 1969. Minutes of meetings of the Committee held in the 1970s provide evidence of closer working of the Committee and the Guild of Students, and regularly include details of Guild events organised by student societies representing different religions, and the greater involvement of the Recognised Chaplains in the work of the Guild of Students, including interdenominational student conferences. The Committee was also involved in the Open Lectures programme from 1966 onwards, and influenced the inclusion of lectures on religion, not necessarily from a specifically Christian standpoint.
Minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 1966 mention the possibility of organising an Inter-Faith Congress. The minutes include records of the Sub-Committee established to organise the congress, and minutes of a meeting of this Sub-Committee on 10 January 1967 contain information about the aims of the congress, the form of the congress, the religions to be included, possible speakers, plans for an exhibition, financial estimates, and consultation with students. Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 1967 contain proposals for the Inter-Faith Congress to be held in November 1967 at the Guild of Undergraduates, which was to be open to the expression of all beliefs and non-belief, with a teach-in and a symposium. Minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 1967 state that sponsorship of the Congress was being transferred from the Committee to the Guild and to St Francis Hall, in association with the Recognised Chaplains.
Other student events which the Committee had some involvement with were a survey of Christianity in the Universities published by the Student Christian Movement, mentioned in minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 1962; and Octave of Unity events in the mid 1960s, mentioned in minutes of meetings held in 1964, 1965 and 1966, which include minutes a s Sub-Committee which dealt specifically with these events
Broader issues relating to student welfare in which the Recognised Chaplains might play a role are occasionally discussed. Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 1962 include a brief report by the Lodgings Warden on aspects of the work and problems of students in lodgings which were relevant to the pastoral work of the Chaplains. This mentions a minority of students behaving inconsiderately when living in lodgings, in their apparent 'indiscretions in relationships with the opposite sex', and the loneliness of overseas students finding it difficult to get used to the English climate and diet. The report emphasises the need to integrate students and for them to receive guidance from older students, householders, and members of staff. At this point in the 1960s the moral role of the Chaplains is sometimes emphasised, and the minutes comment on the 'indiscreet behaviour' of students at the weekly dances held by the Guild of Students. The minutes also mention talks by the University Medical Officer, which sometimes refer to psychological problems suffered by students, but details of these talks are not given
The Committee continued to organise the distribution of postcards and introductory leaflets to newly arrived students throughout the 1970s, and regularly discussed amending the wording of these. The minutes often contain copies of the leaflets.
Minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 1976 include a copy of the report of the Recognised Chaplains Committee, Autumn Term 1976, and minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 1977 include a copy of the St Francis Hall Chaplains Report. Minutes of meetings held in the late 1970s usually contain copies of the Chaplains' Reports on each term's events
Minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 1978 include a printed copy of the University of Birmingham booklet 'Where to Go For Advice' issued to all members of academic staff and to first year students, and available through the Guild Welfare Office, which includes information about the Chaplaincy. These minutes also contain a copy of a report on a survey of overseas students, undertaken by Birmingham International Council for Overseas Student Affairs in co-operation with the Sociology Department, and statistics on numbers of overseas students and their home residence
The last meeting for which minutes survive took place on 17 November 1981. These minutes record that 'in view of the current need to economise' the Committee would continue to meet as an informal gathering only, and would cease to have the status of a Senate Committee |