Stan Brown, 44
Job advertised in The THES , February 14 2003

Ecumenical Chaplain to Kingston University

Karaoke carols in the student bar is how Kingston University's new chaplain is celebrating his first Christmas on campus. A carol service using the music and images of other cultures is his other big event.

Stan Brown, a Methodist minister for 18 years, was appointed chaplain on the retirement of David Buckley, who held the inter-denominational post for four years. There is also an honorary Catholic position.

Peter Scott, vice-chancellor, says: "The nature of university chaplaincies is that incumbents move about."

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Ken Hopkins, dean of students, sits on the chaplaincy committee along with staff, student and local representatives. He says 13 people applied for the post. "We were looking for someone with sympathy for and understanding of working with multicultural and inter-faith issues. Ours is an unconventional chaplaincy, and we drew up a guide of personal qualities.

These were: outgoing, active, articulate, innovative, understanding, tolerant, sensitive, autonomous, flexible, self-reliant."

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Brown, who had worked in churches in three different areas, says: "A university chaplaincy interested me because I'd got a lot out of my contact with mine as a student."

Since he started on September 1, Brown has been busy adjusting. "I have been pleased about how well received I've felt. The chaplaincy has a place in the community."

Kingston is a secular institution. "All faiths are present and I'm really a religious-affairs officer. My big project is to talk about spirituality in university. People can speak about themselves and the beyond, whether they have faith or not," Brown says.