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.
