CHURCH FOUNDATION, PLURALIST PRESENT, UNCERTAIN … · We are facing a crisis in HE today, so first we need some scene setting –how did we get here? 16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon

16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 1

Foundation Hour 2016

CHURCH FOUNDATION,

PLURALIST PRESENT,

UNCERTAIN FUTURE?The role and calling

of a faith-based

institution in

Higher Education

today

In this FH lecture (following my Dearing Lecture) after

a brief Introduction, we will look at three main parts:

Church Foundation,

Pluralist Present,

Uncertain Future?

My purpose is to examine the role and calling of faith-

based institutions in Higher Education today and the

contribution University of Chester might make to HE.

We are facing a crisis in HE today, so first we need

some scene setting – how did we get here?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 2

Introduction

“Universities today have a moral obligation to

assist our fellow human beings in a global context”

Context: King’s College London senior leadership

‘retreat’ to consider our ‘vision’ for next 25 years;

‘retreat’ and ‘vision’ spiritual, even religious, words.

Going away into silence? 200 yards, consultant.

As Dean, I referred to our Anglican foundation, yet

many nervous about doing so in our world today.

Dominant consideration was student satisfaction in

the world of £9,000 tuition fees – ‘NSS is king’!16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 3

Introduction

What is the relationship between the market and academy?

View across Agora from the Acropolis towards Plato’s Academy

Socrates’ divine mission as ‘wisest man’ from the oracle to

question business & politics; ignorant of ignorance; led to death16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 4

Introduction

Newman’s The Idea of the University 1852, 1887

Robbins Report on Higher Education, 1963

Robbins Committee which identified four aims and

objectives of higher education, summarised as:

“instruction in skills for employment;

promoting the general powers of the mind;

the advancement of learning and search for truth

the transmission of a common culture and common

standards of citizenship.”

Reinterpreted a generation later by Dearing 199716th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 5

Introduction

1997 ‘Higher Education in the learning society’

Involved 240 meetings and 380 public submissions

Nearly 2,000 pages and 93 recommendations

Vision for next 20 years

A ‘learning society’

Discussed HE purpose

‘main business’ of HE

Addressed HE funding

‘Graduate contribution’ -

but recouped through income contingent means16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 6

Introduction

Para 5.11 “The four main purposes of higher education are:

to inspire and enable individuals to develop their capabilities

to the highest potential levels throughout life, so that they

grow intellectually, are well-equipped for work, can contribute

effectively to society and achieve personal fulfilment;

to increase knowledge and understanding for their own sake

and to foster their application to the benefit of the economy

and society;

to serve the needs of an adaptable, sustainable, knowledge-

based economy at local, regional and national levels;

to play a major role in shaping a democratic, civilised,

inclusive society.” (Dearing Report, p. 72)


Introduction

First point about individual fulfilment, work & society

Next two are about the economy

Shaping society in the final point

Report led to fees, end of grants

– against his wishes

Dearing set up by Secretaries for

Education & Employment

2001 Dept for Education & Skills

2007 Dept for Innovation,

Universities & Skills

2009 Business, Innovation & Skills: agora>academy16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 8

Introduction

BIS Green paper, Nov 6th 2015

Stress on teaching standards,

Teaching Excellence Framework

Focus on student satisfaction

and graduate employability

Greater social diversity / mobility

Allows ‘successful’ to raise fees

Opening up for new universities

Reforming HE ‘architecture’

Implications for research funding16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 9

Introduction

5.46 “There may be less emphasis now on the role

of higher education in transmitting a common

culture than there was at the time of Robbins,

partly because cultures within the UK have

become more diverse, and partly because there

are so many other forms of cultural transmission

available through the mass media. But this

reinforces the need for higher education to

preserve and transmit those forms and aspects of

culture which may be, for the time being,

unfashionable or in danger of being overwhelmed

by the majority culture.” (Dearing last para, p. 80)16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 10

Introduction

Business and politics in the Agora, the market-place,

are no longer placed between religion & Academy.

The market has taken over churches & universities.

In an individualistic and increasingly diverse society,

what is the role and calling of higher education

institutions with a religious foundation?

Is it merely to ‘preserve and transmit . . aspects of

culture which may be unfashionable or in danger of

being overwhelmed by the majority culture’?

Or might it offer something to or even save culture,

or at least, save the academy from the marketplace? 16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 11

Introduction

In 1999 I preached before HM Queen at the 750th

anniversary service of the 1249 grant of William of

Durham for the ‘great hall of the University’, Oxford.

Influenced by, and based, on the example of Paris

Definition of a university: a quad v benefaction!

Right up to the 19th century, the English ancient

universities of Oxford and Cambridge required staff

and students to be communicant members of the

Church of England: Shelley. An Anglican ‘lock-out’

stopping others having higher education.

All changed in pluralism after the Napoleonic Wars16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 12

1 Church Foundation

1826: Founding of University College London by

mix of utilitarians, dissenters, Catholics, Jews.


1 Church Foundation

Human rights in

the American

and French

revolutions:

‘Freedom from

religion’ – French

secularism, or

‘freedom for

religion’ – USA

free market?

June 19th 1828 – The London paper Evening

Standard announces a meeting to ‘to establish

on Christian and constitutional principles a

great metropolitan school’

‘With such a seminary in a prosperous position,

there will be neither motive nor excuse for any

parent to inflict upon his offspring the disgrace

of education in the infidel and godless college

in Gower Street.’

Leads to the founding of King’s College London16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 14

1 Church Foundation

Proposal to instigate King’s by Reverend Dr George D’Oyly, Rector of Lambeth.

21st June 1828 – Founding meeting takes place with present:

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (PM in the Chair);

the Archbishop of Canterbury;

eight other archbishops and bishops attend with a number of prominent laymen.Caricature from 1828: the bishops’ involvement in the founding of King’s weighs down one end of the see-saw against the “University of London”!


1 Church Foundation


1 Church Foundation

Duel between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of

Winchilsea over Catholic emancipation and founding

King’s, Saturday 21 March 1829, Battersea Fields

1829 Royal Charter: the objects of King’s College

are to keep the connection of ‘sound learning’ with

teaching the ‘doctrines and duties of Christianity’

and ‘the various branches of literature and science’16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 17

1 Church Foundation

To ensure this Christian vision King’s Principals had to be ordained clergy of the Church of England

William Otter was the first Principal of King’s College London, 1831–1836

Bishop of Chichester, 1836–1839

1.25 million children in Sunday schools by 1831

Bp Otter College founded as a memorial April 1839

Leads to


1 Church Foundation

Chester’s earlier foundation January in 1839 also

involved future prime ministers like Gladstone and

Earl of Derby as well as Archbishop of Canterbury

Original buildings the first purpose built for the

training of teachers, opening in 1842.


1 Church Foundation

1839 Chester Diocesan Training College

1921 Affiliated to Liverpool University

1933 Future secured by the then Bishop of Chester,

Geoffrey Fisher, later +London, then ++Canterbury.

1960s Chester College of Education, post-Robbins

1996 University College Chester

2002 Warrington merger

2003 Degree awarding powers

2005 University of Chester

2007 Research degree powers; 2008 RAE success16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 20

1 Church Foundation

Part of Cathedrals

Group: ‘sixteen

universities with

Church foundations’

‘Ethical principles

informed by faith-

based values’

‘Share a common

faith heritage’

Clear links to the

three Churches16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 21

1 Church Foundation


1 Church Foundation

Many founded during

1840s – 1850s

Second wave in 1960s

post Robbins

Teacher training

Our church foundations lie in the 19th century

response to religious pluralism in Europe and

a deep desire to save children from child labour

by training teachers to educate them instead.

This happened a generation before the state’s

provision for universal primary education in 1870.

This was repeated again in the pluralistic 1960s.

Our church foundations were motivated by a

strong faith in God who wants everyone to grow.

This is surely something in which to take pride!16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 23

1 Church Foundation


2 Pluralist Present

And yet it takes several steps to find history

pages and many seem coy or embarrassed:

Oxford has some old pictures and narrative

https://www.cam.ac.uk/



Cambridge starts with a scary dinosaur

before pages work through its various periods


2 Pluralist Present

King’s overview:

‘founded by

King George IV

and the Duke of

Wellington (PM)’

‘in the tradition

of the Church

of England’

‘now welcomes

all faiths and beliefs’.


2 Pluralist Present

Foundation of KCL:

‘eminent politicians,

churchmen, others.

They wanted a

Church of England

alternative to UCL’

But more interested

in the Duke’s duel

than in Archbishop

of Canterbury!


2 Pluralist Present

Cathedrals group: a strong and proud statement

about ‘founded by the churches for purpose of

training teachers before state provided education

for all’ and admitting ‘women on an equal footing’16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 28

2 Pluralist Present

When you follow the links:

the four Catholic members

identify themselves: Heythrop,

Leeds, St Mary’s, Newman

Liverpool Hope is ‘ecumenical’

Of the others, only Chester and

Bishop Grossteste say ‘C of E’

Rest prefer to stress other

attributes, location, community,

facilities – being ‘different’ 16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 29

2 Pluralist Present

Welcome / Home page: ‘faith-based values’

Excellent list of four areas where faith-based

values will have an important impact.

Not clear how are these based on faith or

whether other universities would not also say

the same without values being based on faith.16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 30

2 Pluralist Present

‘only grouping in HE . . informed by faith-based values’

‘a distinctive contribution . reflects our identity & values’

‘a distinctively ethical perspective in HE landscape’

‘celebrates our heritage as Christian foundations’

strong statements – how do they get worked out?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 31

2 Pluralist Present

‘Church / Christian foundation’ – only in past?

‘Strong ethical principles’

‘Social justice’ and the ‘public good’

‘Responsible stewards of the environment’

‘Embrace diversity, combat prejudice, respect’

Uncertain link between the first and the rest?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 32

2 Pluralist Present


2 Pluralist Present

Mission stresses Church of England foundation

and ‘guided by Christian values’

Vision all well and good – but nothing distinctive;

‘guided by Christian values’, religious/spiritual?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 34

2 Pluralist Present


2 Pluralist Present

How did we move from strong church foundation

to present pluralist coyness or embarrassment?

1960’s ‘death of God’ and rise of ‘new atheists’,

R Dawkins etc – hence references to ‘no faith’.

Multicultural and pluralist challenge of recent

decades, immigration, international students.

BIS’ stress on equality, diversity and inclusivity.

Chester and CG universities need to compete in

the market place: will the values and mission be

still ‘faith-based’ and distinctive, or the same as

everybody else’s in the uncertain future?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 36

2 Pluralist Present

Understandable tendency to assume that this

slide from proud ‘church foundations’ through a

‘pluralist present’ will lead inexorably to the end

of Christian distinctiveness in Cathedral Group.

Final section will argue that this is not inevitable:

partly because of changes in our society

partly because of initiatives already happening

at Chester and within the Cathedral Group.

But now is the time for action to be taken.

First, a view from over the water in the USA:16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 37

3 Uncertain Future?

“Many American universities were founded as religious

institutions, explicitly designed to cultivate their students’

spiritual and moral natures. But over the course of the

20th century they became officially or effectively

secular. Religious rituals like mandatory chapel services

were dropped. Academic research and teaching replaced

character formation at the core of the university’s mission.

Administrators and professors dropped spiritual language

and moral prescription either because they didn’t know

what to say or because they didn’t want to alienate any part

of their diversifying constituencies.”


3 Uncertain Future?

“Universities are more professional and glittering than

ever, but in some ways there is emptiness deep down.

Students are taught how to do things, but many are not

forced to reflect on why they should do them or what we

are here for. But things are changing. . . Institutes are

popping up — with interdisciplinary humanities programs

and even meditation centers — designed to cultivate the

whole student: the emotional, spiritual and moral sides and

not just the intellectual. The trick is to find a way to talk

about moral and spiritual things while respecting

diversity.”


3 Uncertain Future?

The failure of the secularization hypothesis:

1960s theory that religion would die away.

Yet perhaps it is the most important political

and social issue facing the world in 21st century

–and the one most misunderstood by politicians

1960s-1970s assumption that science would

have all the answers & put God out of business

Star Trek ‘to boldly go’ came home with the 4th

series, Voyager; nostalgic prequel, Enterprise.

Post-Christian – or post-atheistic? R Dawkins?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 40

3 Uncertain Future?

Church-going may have declined recently:

5 million members; 2-3m in church on Sundays.

Compare 350,000 at Premier League matches.

Total capacity Premier League grounds: 750,000

Total capacity of 92 football grounds: 2 million.

Total membership of all political parties: 700,000

150k Conservatives; 110k SNP; 61k LibDem;

65k Greens; 42k UKIP; 290k Labour (plus 148k

union affiliates and 112k £3 members to vote).

British Humanist Association 40k; Secular similar16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 41

3 Uncertain Future?

16th March 2016

2011 National Census:

59.3% Christian (2001: 71.1%);

4.8% Muslim (3%); 1.5% Hindu

(1%); 0.8% Sikhs (0.5%); 0.5%

Jews (0.5%); 0.4% Buddhist

(0.3%); 25.1% ‘no religion’

(14.1%); 7.2% ‘no answer’

Large Christian majority, with

a tenth for other world faiths and

a quarter stating ‘no religion’.

Linda Woodhead’s recent lecturesRev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 42

3 Uncertain Future?

‘They’re all old people –

what about students today?’

CUE project 2010-2013 in

five different HE contexts

51% Christian; 34% none;

15% others. Backed up by

other surveys, 44-50%

Christians: 50% church in

term, and 66% in vacations

King’s surveys: students

more religious than staff16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 43

3 Uncertain Future?

‘Faith-based values’: what is the

doctrinal basis for our ethics?

Compare EIAG policies; needed

to be distinctively Christian

How does Creation–fall–election

–incarnation–atonement–eschat

-ology drive our view of human

beings? This can provide a real

‘faith-basis’ for ethical values.

See also Mike Higton Theology

of Higher Education OUP 2012 16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 44

3 Uncertain Future?

Chester Vision 2020

Corporate Plan

Begins with your

Mission, Vision and

Foundational Values

Moves through

student experience,

learning & teaching,

research innovation,

partnerships to

measures of success16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 45

3 Uncertain Future?

How to

maintain the

link between

Foundation,

Mission and

the overall

Vision?


3 Uncertain Future?


3 Uncertain Future?

These are

excellent

Values, but

under threat

in market-

driven HE.

How will you

honour & hold

yourselves

‘accountable

to them’?

Key Measures of Success are all impressive but

how are they derived from the mission and vision

and how ‘accountable’ to the foundation values?16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 48

3 Uncertain Future?

What are the ‘measures of success’ for:

The ‘dignity and worth of every individual’? What if

some individuals stop getting into the top %ages?

‘education in the service of society’? There is the

target of 35,000 hours of community engagement,

but how to measure how you ‘serve society’?

What happens if the ‘pursuit of truth and freedom of

enquiry’ get in the way of achieving some of the

financial or institutional targets?

We need to cultivate the gift of wisdom to guide us.16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 49

3 Uncertain Future?


3 Uncertain Future?

The roundel is a fantastic summary of values

‘Founded in faith’

‘Creating community’

‘Serving society’

And holding yourselves ‘accountable’ to the values.

But are they challenged by market-driven approach

to HE ever since Dearing and BIS reports?

Graeme Davies, HEFCE, 1995, had Golden Rule:

“the man who has the gold, makes the rules!”

Jesus’ Golden Rule different: “God and Mammon”16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 51

3 Uncertain Future?

We have looked at the role & calling of faith-based

institutions in Higher Education today in the light of

Church Foundation,

Pluralist Present,

Uncertain Future?

Churches in the 1840s and 1960s responded to

needs of society and to challenge of pluralism

Extraordinary vision of founders and foundation

We must draw on this deep and sound

foundation to go forward into a certain future.16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 52

Conclusion

The contribution the Cathedral Group might make

to HE today is clear in all the various web-sites

Chester in particular is refreshingly bold and

distinctive in its mission, vision & foundation values

The challenge is to build on the church foundations

Ensure values are truly faith-based and distinctive

How to market this USP and measure success?

Can the ‘faith-based’ academy challenge the

Agora/market-place in future – or will it actually be

assimilated & its distinctive individuality erased?

Return to theme of ‘wisdom’ in tomorrow’s Sermon.16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 53

Conclusion

Challenge of relationship between the market and academy?

View across Agora from the Acropolis towards Plato’s Academy

Today I may have been Socrates, goading some questions

But I hope and pray we can all avoid drinking the hemlock!16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 54

Conclusion


Foundation Hour 2016

CHURCH FOUNDATION,

PLURALIST PRESENT,

UNCERTAIN FUTURE?The role and calling

of a faith-based

institution in

Higher Education

today

Documents

CHURCH FOUNDATION, PLURALIST PRESENT, UNCERTAIN … · We are facing a crisis in HE today, so first we need some scene setting –how did we get here? 16th March 2016 Rev'd Canon