Board Vision

Chaplains

The Otago Tertiary Chaplaincy Trust Board, established in 1963 exists to provide chaplaincy services on an ecumenical basis to the University of Otago and the Otago Polytechnic.

Vision, Mission and Purpose Statement for Chaplaincy to Otago University (OU) and Otago Polytechnic (OP)

Our Vision

(/dream/ prayer) for all students and staff of OU and OP, and for the institutions themselves, is that they will increasingly express spiritual authenticity in their lives, work, learning, systems and cultures.

Our Mission

The Otago Tertiary Chaplaincy Trust Board recognises and seeks to honour the Treaty of Waitangi and exists to provide Chaplaincy services which deliver quality pastoral care, spiritual support and educational resourcing to all Otago University and Otago Polytechnic students and staff. We aim to be ever open to developing new and creative approaches in response to the changing needs of the campus communities we serve, as vital expressions of our Church’s mission to the world God loves.

As Christians, our four Purposes and their associated goals are:

Purpose 1. To affirm and encourage the spiritual dimension in the educational endeavour.

Goals:

To support and affirm all those encountered in the context of tertiary education.
To facilitate the expression and affirmation of spirituality in OU and OP communities.
To conduct services of worship, and other religious/spiritual events as required.
To engage OU and OP with important contemporary ethical, moral, spiritual and religious issues.
On request, to participate in formal and informal tertiary teaching in the fields of religion and spirituality.
To represent the Christian churches to OU and OP.

Purpose 2. To encourage and contribute to the wise use of knowledge

Goals:

To be faithful to the Christian prophetic tradition in dealing with structures, policies and cultures of OU and OP communities.
To arrange for and participate in forums and discussion groups.
To make available on request chaplains’ personal teaching, facilitation and lecturing skills.
Where appropriate, to conduct research in cooperation with OU and OP staff and students.
Where appropriate, to provide supervision and/or spiritual direction for students and staff.

Purpose 3. To foster community within, and promote links between OU and OP, and local and national Christian and other-than-Christian faith communities.

Goals:

To provide a model of unity by developing a team approach among all chaplains working on all the OU and OP campuses.
To be alert to the aspirations, needs and struggles of all staff and students of OU and OP.
To form links with Christian groups and other faith communities within the institutions, and encourage interaction among all groups with religious and/or spiritual concerns.
To maintain connections with Ecumenical Bodies in New Zealand, and participate in national conferences organised by the Aotearoa-NZ Tertiary Chaplains’ Assn.
To inform churches and other faith communities about the nature and life of OU and OP by such means as reports, addresses and participation in local services of worship.
To transmit national and local church concerns and views to OU and OP.
When requested to by OU and OP, to accept a representative role on behalf of the institutions
To maintain up-to-date sources of information

Purpose 4. To participate in the provision of quality pastoral care.

Goals:

To offer quality pastoral counselling and spiritual support
To address personal, group and societal religious/spiritual questions and challenges.
To lead or provide resources for religious/spiritual celebrations and rites of passage , such as weddings and funerals.
To work for the improvement of the well-being of all members of the communities in association with other care providers.

The Board seeks to fulfil these purposes primarily through employing Chaplains and through supporting the work of Volunteer Chaplaincy Assistants.