About MFGHC
The Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy was launched formally at a small event in the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday 25th June 2003. The event was hosted by Peter Bottomley MP and the MFGHC was launched by Mrs Sarah Mullally, Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health on behalf of the Minister of State (Health). Pictures of the event are carried on the MFGHC website.
MFGHC includes representatives of the nine World Faiths: Bahá'í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian Faiths.
Chairman
Mr Manhar Mehta
Mr Manhar Mehta was elected to serve as chairman for the period 2009-2010.
He is a Mechanical Engineer by profession. Since he came to the UK, in 1968, he has organised religious activities for the Jains community here. He established an organisation called Jain Samaj Leicester that has grown and is now known as Jain Samaj Europe. The organisation has built a beautiful Jain Temple in Leicester where Manhar is a Trustee.
He is also the Chairman of an organisation called The National Council of Vanik Associations(UK) that has around 25 Jain/Vanik organisations affiliated to it; thus acting as their umbrella organisation.
Being the Jain representative at MFGHC since its establishment, he has taken on the responsibility to initiate Jain Spiritual Care (Chaplaincy) services for hospitals in the UK.
He also represents the Jain faith at Brent Multi-Faith Forum and Brent SACRE.
Vice-Chairman
Mr Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin (2009-2010)
Director – Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the NHS (2005 – now)
Formerly Deputy Director: the Islamic Foundation, Markfield, Leicestershire (1995 – 2005).
He is a graduate ( B.A ) from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and is married with 4 children.
Chowdhury Mueen-uddin has served as a member of the Multi Faith Joint National Working Party (MFJNWP) since its inception in 1998 and became a member of of its successor organisation the Multi Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy (MFGHC). He has over 25 years of experience working with the community organisations and served and on the Board of a number of distinguished charities. These include among others Board member and vice chairman – As Shahada Housing Association, Board member Labo Housing Association and currently Gateway Housing Association, Chairman – Muslim Aid (at present board member , Vice Chairman – East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre, Chairman – Governing Body, the London East Academy ( a private secondary school). He served as the Secretary General of the Council of Mosques UK and Eire for 2 terms (1984 – 1988) and was involved in setting up the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).
He occassionally contributes to news papers and journals and some of his articles were published in journals in housing releated sector such as ‘Regeneration' and ‘Planning'.
Chief Officer
Following the resignation of the Revd Edward Lewis, the duties of the Chief Officer are being covered on a temporary basis by the Chair and Vice Chair. The position will be advertised in May 2010
Honorary Treasurer
Keith Munnings (2009-10)
The Purpose of MFGHC
The object of the MFGHC is the advancement of multi-faith healthcare chaplaincy in England and Wales. The Group seeks to further this object by facilitating a common understanding and support for healthcare chaplaincy amongst Faith Groups, chaplaincy bodies and users; providing a means of consultation between the Faiths about healthcare chaplaincy; and working in co-operation with healthcare and chaplaincy organisations, bodies and authorities.
In particular, the MFGHC seeks to provide advice to the Department of Health about multi-faith healthcare chaplaincy on behalf of all Faith Groups; to enable those Faith Groups engaged in healthcare chaplaincy to formulate, agree and promulgate policy on healthcare chaplaincy in consultation with other chaplaincy bodies; and to promote the highest quality of healthcare chaplaincy through the development of agreed standards across all Faith Groups and within healthcare organisations.
Membership of the MFGHC
Full membership of the Multi-Faith Group shall be open to those Faith Groups in the United Kingdom which have agreed to participate as full members of the Multi-Faith Group, and also to chaplaincy bodies which are multi-faith in their purpose, membership, and governance. There are also categories of associate and observer membership
Organisation of the MFGHC
The Multi-Faith Group comprises the members of the nominating bodies for those Faith Groups and Bodies with membership of the Multi-Faith Group.
The Multi-Faith Group undertakes the majority of its work through the Council and the council's sub-groups, currently for Education and for Standards. The Education Committee advises on issues concerned with the education and training of healthcare chaplains and the Standards Committee advises on issues concerned with the setting and maintaining of healthcare chaplaincy standards.
The Council is lead by a Chair (Mr Manhar Mehta), Vice-Chair (Mr Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin), Joint Chairs - Educatin Committee (HM Shafique Rahman, Revd Debbie Hodge) and Joint Chairs - Standards Committee (Revd Bob Evans, Mr Ron Maddox). Management and administrative support is provided by a Chief Officer (Revd Edward Lewis) who manages resources on the Council's behalf.
Biennial Review
The first Biennial Review (2003-2004) was published at a Review Conference held in London in June 2005.
