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Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy

.....advancing multi-faith healthcare chaplaincy.

Council Minutes

MULTI-FAITH GROUP FOR HEALTHCARE CHAPLAINCY

NOTES OF THE INAUGURAL MEETING HELD AT CHURCH HOUSE, WESTMINSTER ON MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2002


Present:
Hon Barney Leith - Chairman
Ervad Bhedwar
Miss Jaquie Flindall
Revd Edward Lewis – Chief Officer
Mr Sital Singh Maan
Revd Christine Pocock
Mr Paul Seto
Rabbi Martin van den Bergh

In attendance
Mr Tim Battle, Training and Development Officer
Ms Liz Paffey, HCC Administrator

As Observers
Mrs Carol English
Revd Jane LLoyd
Preb Peter Speck

1/ 02 Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Mr Manhar Mehta, HM Shafiqur Rahman and Bishop Howard Tripp.

2/ 02 Formal inauguration of the Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy
Barney Leith officially welcomed members to the first meeting of the Council of the new group. He particularly welcomed Jane LLoyd, President of the College of Health Care Chaplains as an observer at this first meeting.

3/ 02 Draft Constitution [Read Constitution]
The draft Constitution, updated to take account of members’ suggestions, had been circulated. Further comments were noted as follows:
Paragraph 2 “Faith Groups” was taken to be the nine world Faiths which had comprised the original joint national working party. It was agreed that each of the three Christian traditions should have membership initially. Consideration to other groups such as pagans wishing to be included as Faith Groups would be given as the need arose.
Paragraph 6 “Full membership” – It was agreed that chaplaincy organisations which were not Faith Groups would need to fulfil the membership criteria cited (multi-faith in purpose, membership and function). This would be judged by the Honorary Officers on the basis of a written application submitted to the Chair including the organisation’s constitution and any other evidence it wished in support. If in doubt, the Honorary Officers would be able to refer to a meeting of the Council. It was unclear from the paragraph whether the College of Health Care Chaplains would qualify for full membership or associate membership. In discussion it was agreed that the College Constitution embraced the multi-faith purpose, membership and governance and therefore would be eligible for full membership. They would simply need to write to the Chair with their application and copy of their Constitution.
Paragraph 10 “Two members” It was agreed that each Faith Group should be encouraged to nominate a second member to the Council (and to notify Liz Paffey of the name and address).
Paragraph 13 “Chief Officer” It was agreed to designate a chief officer and not to use the word “appoint”.
Paragraph 14 “Executive meeting” It was agreed that the Executive meeting should comprise the Honorary Officers and the Chief Officer.
Paragraph 23 “Alterations” It was agreed that the notice period should be reduced to two months.

Subject to these changes, it was agreed that the Constitution as amended be allowed to run for a year. A final version would be circulated with the minutes and Tim Battle was thanked for his work in drafting these papers.


4/ 02 Secretariat arrangements
The proposal to endorse the arrangements whereby Edward Lewis and HCC would continue to provide the services as previously was discussed and Edward Lewis confirmed that his Council supported this arrangement. Further discussion and consideration of the Briefing paper on the management contract would be held over to a longer meeting. In the meantime, it was agreed that HCC should be thanked for their consideration and asked to continue to provide secretariat services.


5/ 02 Finance
It was recognised that Faith Groups would have difficulty making a financial contribution from their own funds but that some of the larger Groups were able to fund aspects of joint work such as the education programme. There would however be a heavy reliance on grant aid from both DoH and South Yorkshire WDC. As a priority, it was necessary to find ways to fund the secretarial and office services.
Liz Paffey reported that there was approximately £1,000 left from the previous grant aid which would need to last until new funding had been received. This sum should be sufficient to administer the Multi-Faith Group for 12 months and enable another training day, provided that delegates paid their own expenses.
It was agreed to revisit this at the next meeting.


6/ 02 Plan of work
It was agreed that the MFG needed to consider what work it should undertake and also that it should review its remit generally. It was therefore agreed to meet from 11am to 4pm at Church House on Tuesday 11th February to discuss a plan of work for the first year.


7/ 02 Launch meeting
It was agreed that a launch event for the Group was needed. The launch should aim to have a Minister as a keynote speaker, with Faith leaders and parliamentarians attending and good press coverage. It was necessary to prepare a list of people to invite. Dates suggested for the launch were 17 February, 25 February and 3 March. Much would depend on when the guidance (in the hands of the Chief Nurse before going out to consultation) comes out. Edward Lewis agreed to prepare these arrangements in parallel to the work planning day.


8/ 02 Training Day
It was agreed that a Training Day would be held on Saturday 25th January 2003 at the Buddhist Society.


9/ 02 Date of next meeting
The next meeting would be held on Tuesday 11th February at Room 1, Church House, Westminster from 11.00am to 4.00pm. to consider the Group’s work plan.

LP/14.11.02.
 
   
   
   
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