Throughout this document, reference to chaplain should also be taken to include spiritual care giver and reference to chaplaincy should also be taken to include spiritual care giving.

3.  In particular, the Multi-Faith Group shall seek the following

• 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;
• To promote the highest quality of healthcare chaplaincy through the development of agreed standards across all Faith Groups and within healthcare organisations;
• To assist healthcare organisations in the appointment of appropriately qualified and suitably authorised chaplains through the development of the system of assessors at interview currently undertaken by the Panel of Assessors;
• To promote the education and training of healthcare chaplains to meet agreed performance standards and to encourage wider learning and education;
• To ensure that the departments, divisions and boards of the Faith Groups at national and intermediate levels work together as closely as possible.
• To provide a forum for advice and support to healthcare bodies and organisations within and outside the NHS.

4. The Multi-Faith Group shall make no statement and produce no material which is not solely related to its object, aims and functions without the consent of the constituent organisations. No major policy decision shall be made by the Multi-Faith Group without reference through its representatives to their sponsoring bodies.

Membership

5. There are three categories of membership of the Multi-Faith Group. Application for each category of membership set out below will need to be agreed by the existing members.

6. 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. The current members at the date of adoption of this Constitution are listed in Schedule A (not attached to this draft).

7. Associate membership is available for chaplaincy organisations which are not eligible for full membership. Associate members may be represented at meetings of the Council of the Multi-Faith Group at which they may speak but not vote. Associate Members shall be eligible to attend and take a full part in the work of sub-committees of the Council of the Multi-Faith Group.

8. Observer status is available to other bodies with an interest in healthcare chaplaincy. Those accepted may be invited to appoint observers to meetings of the committees of the Multi-Faith Group at which they may speak but not vote.

Organisation

9. 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 shall meet from time to time as agreed by its members. The Multi-Faith Group undertakes the majority of its work through the Council and the council’s sub-groups.

10. Each Faith Group nominates two members to the Council. The Council determines the membership and constituency of sub-groups on the recommendation of the Executive meeting. The current sub-groups are the Executive meeting, the Standards Committee, and the Education Committee

11. The Council of the Multi-Faith Group shall meet every four months or as determined by the Member Faiths through the Executive Meeting and will provide an opportunity for Member Faiths to make decisions together on matters pertaining to healthcare chaplaincy which are proper to them

12. The Council shall elect Honorary Officers as Chair, Vice-Chair, Chair - Standards Committee and Chair - Education Committee for a two year term of office not renewable and rotating between the Faith Groups.
[Procedure for election of Honorary Officers 2004]

13. The Honorary Officers will designate a Chief Officer to manage resources on its behalf and will agree and monitor a management contract for these activities.

14. The Executive Meeting comprises the Honorary Officers and the Chief Officer. Minutes of these meetings shall be kept by the Chief Officer and a summary reported to Council.

15. The Standards Committee will meet as necessary to advise Council on issues concerned with the setting and maintaining of healthcare chaplaincy standards. The Standards Committee comprises a Chair appointed by the Council and ten other members appointed equally between the Council and the College of Health Care Chaplains (or other body representative of healthcare chaplains).

16. The Education Committee will meet as necessary to advise Council on issues concerned with the education and training of healthcare chaplains. The Education Committee comprises a Chair appointed by the Council and ten other members appointed equally between the Council and the College of Health Care Chaplains (or other body representative of healthcare chaplains).

17. The Council shall appoint such other Committees/ Panels as it deems necessary for the general administration of the Multi-Faith Group.

Finance

18. The work of the Multi-Faith Group shall be maintained through grant aid from other bodies and, where possible, through contributions from the Member Faith Groups.

19. The Multi-Faith Group shall approve an annual budget for its work which shall be monitored by the Council.

20. The work of the Multi-Faith Group shall be reported to constituent organisations in an Annual Report.

21. The Chief Officer of the Multi-Faith Group shall be responsible for ensuring that accounts and records of financial matters pertaining to the Multi-Faith Group’s work are maintained in accordance with best practice.

Rules

22. The Executive Meeting may make and amend all Rules necessary for the conduct and operation of the Multi-Faith Group . At least three months notice of change should be provided to the Member Faiths to enable full consultation to take place provided that such Rules shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

Alterations to the Constitution

23. This Constitution may be amended with the consent of not less than 75% in number of the Full Member Faiths provided that sufficient notice of the amendment (being at least two months) is given to the Member Faiths to enable their decision-making bodies to consider the amendment.

Dissolution

24. The Multi-Faith Group may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by not less than 75% in number of the Full Member Faiths by their representatives present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which at least six months notice shall have been given to the Member Faiths. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Multi-Faith Group.

Home | News  |  Bulletins  |  About MFGHC  | Council  | Resources | Links  |  Forum  |  Index