Faiths and further education - Church of England

Faiths and Further Education:A HandbookBeing there for students in need76Friends are always there for each other and crises do not runaccording to the timetable. Serving chaplains suggest that thereshould be an appointment structure, but the chaplaincy should alsohelp establish its relevance and responsiveness through flexibilityand ability to cope with students on a one-off basis or regularweekly visits.Students with language and other needs77Some students may have physical and/or learning disabilities. Somemay have language learning needs that put them at a disadvantagethat may be isolating. Some refugees or asylum seekers (and localdeprived populations) may have gone through serious traumas.Thechaplaincy can offer support and friendship, and sometimes workwith students on an ongoing basis to achieve outcomes andprogression.Asking the big questions78Another important aspect of chaplaincy work is dealing with someof the big issues that tend to ‘slip between the cracks’ of a busycollege focused on the pressure to achieve qualifications.While allof this is going on – lectures, seminars, coursework andexaminations – the chaplain can help pose questions or listen in thecanteen as students ask,‘What am I going to do with my life?’ andother such questions.Adults at crisis point79The big questions can be asked at any stage of one’s life. Olderstudents are likely to be studying because they want somethingnew, some sense of progress, in their lives. Some new beginnings, ormoving on, can arise from changes in people’s lives, or can inthemselves have a wider impact on relationships. Some studentsarrive after a marriage has broken up. Others (especially women)find that pursuing education has an impact on their ownrelationship. Some students, especially from deprived backgrounds,may find the experience of further education in itself ‘redemptive’,and may come to redefine themselves through the experience offurther education. Once again, the chaplaincy can offer support.Student accidents or deaths80This is an important area for colleges: some colleges have firstidentified the demand for chaplaincy after such an event. It is sadfor the family and friends concerned and it can have a much widerimpact on student (and staff) morale.The chaplaincy team can (andis) usually expected to offer meaningful leadership at such a time.The chaplaincy representative should consult with collegemanagers and will usually be asked to go to the course group totalk the situation through, listen and offer what ministry is needed.“The deaths of four students, two from one faithcommunity, two from another, in a car crash, had aneffect on a far wider community than the collegeconcerned.The funerals, at which both faith groupswere represented, became a major publicdemonstration of community harmony.The collegedecided to introduce a paid chaplaincy.” (Principal)Staff81Much of the focus of the chaplaincy is likely to be on the students,but of course, the staff are a vital and less transient part of thecollege or institution. Serving chaplains identify staff (sometimes insmall numbers) as the most regular attenders at weeklycommunion services and/or faith meetings held at the colleges.Some chaplains have e-groups of Christian staff as a congregationwho are reached electronically each week with an attachment of aGospel reading plus reflection. Clearly imagination has to be usedto reach and maintain contact with very busy people of all faithsand none, some of whom are full-time members of staff, whileothers are sessional members.Additionally, it must not be forgottenthat staff have spiritual needs for which they may wish to approachthe chaplaincy for support. For example, for many staff, stress is asignificant issue (for example, in terms of workload and workingenvironment). Clearly, the chaplaincy needs to be ready to build uppastoral relationships with staff. It is also important to identify andencourage staff who have an interest in spirituality and values,helping them to make connections between their faith and theirwork (see Turner and Kimber, 2003, p. 53).“Our chaplaincy came into its own when we had somemajor restructuring. Staff who were losing [their jobs]or being moved to new posts after many years ofservice really found the chaplain a tremendous sourceof support.” (HR director)