UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINCY 

There are at present eight full-time appointments all appointed by their individual university authorities.

Chaplaincies Task Group 
The task group maintains links with Scottish universities and supports Church of Scotland chaplains. A 24-hour
residential conference is organised annually for university chaplains. 

Aims and objectives of university chaplaincy
To provide a presence within the whole university community, with certain recognisable duties and functions, 
in the areas of pastoral care, spiritual and ethical awareness, and Christian worship and witness. 

Pastoral care
The chaplain is expected to: 
* be involved in care for the whole community including students, teachers, administrators, and ancillary staff. 
* offer an availability which is known and recognised and a willingness to be involved in a wider variety of situations 
  whether religious or not. 
* undertake a pastoral role in visiting those in hospital or special need. 
* show an awareness of employment problems. 
* be an accepted and acceptable part of the student welfare services of the university. 

Spiritual and ethical awareness
The chaplain is expected to: 
* be a resource for the conscious broadening and developing of the spiritual insight and ethical awareness of those 
  willing to be challenged by the broader implications of university life. 
* offer the opportunity to explore the theological and ethical implications of the kind of religious groups for whom a 
  university setting provides a unique opportunity for such interaction. 
* provide an opportunity for dialogue between those of different faiths. 
* provide a welcoming situation for overseas students. 
* be a reference point for those with particular faith needs. 
* reflect on university and academic life. 

Christian worship and witness
The chaplain is asked to: 
* provide the opportunity for worship in both traditional and contemporary forms; 
* offer both familiar denominational and ecumenical styles of worship and group activity to cater for both those seeking 
  the familiar and those wishing to learn more of the wider church. 
* offer the "rites of passage" at suitable times, e.g. weddings and funerals where appropriate. 
* provide learning opportunities such as confirmation class or seminars or debates on issues affecting the church or to 
  which the church should be addressing itself. 
* be a channel to help people find that form or style of Christian community life which is suitable for them. 
* be available at university occasions and functions such as graduations, induction and fresher's fair as one committed to 
  the whole institution. 

The role of the chaplain
Chaplains have worship to prepare and conduct both during the week and at weekends. Much of this is informal and considerable
creativity is required. Sometimes it is very formal when a different style is needed. Student groups require chaplains to be 
infinitely resourceful and extremely sensitive. Chaplains are seen as resource people as speakers to many kinds of church 
groups. They are also, if Church of Scotland ministers, members of presbytery and are used in different roles by their churches. 

Chaplains are busy people working in what might be described as a "frontier" situation. Many of the people with whom they are in 
contact have little or no contact with the institutional Church. Chaplains are to be found playing a major role in the welfare of 
students and staff, counselling, befriending, and planning. They take part in many of the meetings to do with welfare and are 
uniquely available at all hours of the day and night to those in need. They are often used in times of crisis when students are 
ill or in financial or emotional difficulty. Chaplains visit hospitals, residences, homes and other types of student accommodation. 
They conduct funerals, which among students are usually very emotionally charged, and they become involved in happier occasions 
like weddings. 

Within chaplaincy centres the chaplain has to be an administrator, organising activities for diverse student groups, letter writing, 
referring people on, arranging speakers and or preachers. 

Some have to manage cafes and bread and cheese lunches, most sit on several committees within the university structure. Attendance is 
usually required at graduations, receptions for overseas and new students, and many other university events. 

Chaplains have worship to prepare and conduct both during the week and at weekends. Much of this is informal and considerable 
creativity is required. Sometimes it is very formal when a different style is needed. Student groups require chaplains to be 
infinitely resourceful and extremely sensitive. Chaplains are seen as resource people as speakers to many kinds of church groups. 
They are also, if Church of Scotland ministers, members of presbytery and are used in different roles by their churches. 

The chaplain's role is in many ways to be, as much as to do. In becoming an accepted part of the university community, the chaplain 
is saying something very important concerning the central role of Christianity or faith and spirituality within ordinary life and 
specifically within intellectual or academic life. 

From time to time the chaplain has to be a listener, an advisor, a counsellor, an administrator, a befriender, a leader, an enabler; 
an organiser of acts of worship, formal, informal, sacramental, appropriate to university occasions, a university functionary, working 
within a lively and largely youthful community of all faiths and none. Such work demands a high degree of commitment, ability and sheer 
hard work. 

Contact
The chaplaincies administrator, John Thomson
Email:jthomson@cofscotland.org.uk