BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION Faculty of Theology and Religion A meeting of the Faculty will be held at 2.15pm on Thursday 12 June 2014 in the Roy Griffiths Room, Keble College Conflict of interest: Members of the Committee are asked to declare any interest that could give rise to conflict in any item on the agenda at the beginning of the item in question. Agenda Part A 1. Apologies 2. Farewells 3. Matters for transfer from Part B of the agenda 4. Minutes of meeting held on 6 March 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 1) 5. Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda 6. Report from the Chairman of the Faculty Board 7. Michaelmas Term lectures (enclosed) (Papers 2 and 3) 8. Report from the Director of Undergraduate Studies 9. Report from the Director of Graduate Studies Part B (matters for note only) 10. Minutes of Subject Groups Meetings (a) Old Testament: Minutes of meeting of 5 May, 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 4) (b) New Testament: Minutes of meeting of 13 May, 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 5) (c) History, Doctrine, and Ethics: Minutes of meeting of 13 May, 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 6) (d) Study of Religion: Minutes of meeting of 29 May, 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 7) 11. Committee for Library Provision & Strategy: Minutes of meeting held on 6 May 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 8) 12. Any other business 13. Date of next meeting: Thursday 27 November 2014
Transcript
BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
Faculty of Theology and Religion
A meeting of the Faculty will be held at 2.15pm on Thursday 12 June 2014 in the Roy Griffiths Room,
Keble College
Conflict of interest: Members of the Committee are asked to declare any interest that could give rise
to conflict in any item on the agenda at the beginning of the item in question.
Agenda
Part A
1. Apologies
2. Farewells
3. Matters for transfer from Part B of the agenda
4. Minutes of meeting held on 6 March 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 1)
5. Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda
6. Report from the Chairman of the Faculty Board
7. Michaelmas Term lectures (enclosed) (Papers 2 and 3)
8. Report from the Director of Undergraduate Studies
9. Report from the Director of Graduate Studies
Part B (matters for note only)
10. Minutes of Subject Groups Meetings
(a) Old Testament: Minutes of meeting of 5 May, 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 4)
(b) New Testament: Minutes of meeting of 13 May, 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 5)
(c) History, Doctrine, and Ethics: Minutes of meeting of 13 May, 2014 (enclosed)
(Paper 6)
(d) Study of Religion: Minutes of meeting of 29 May, 2014 (enclosed) (Paper 7)
11. Committee for Library Provision & Strategy: Minutes of meeting held on 6 May 2014
(enclosed) (Paper 8)
12. Any other business
13. Date of next meeting: Thursday 27 November 2014
Paper 1
BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
Faculty of Theology and Religion
Minutes of Meeting held on Thursday 6th March 2014 at 2.15pm, in the Roy Griffiths Room,
Keble College.
Present: Philip Kennedy (Chairman); A.K.M Adam; Sarah Apetrei; Nigel Biggar; Myra Blyth
(Secretary); Ben Edsall; Eric Eve; Sarah Foot; Sue Gillingham; Susan Griffith; Justin Hardin;
Joshua Hordern; John Jarick; Nicholas King; David Lincicum; Michael Lloyd; Philip Lockley;
Mary Marshall; Joel Rasmussen; James Robson; Cathy Ross; Stan Rosenberg; Judith Wolfe;
Simeon Zahl; Johannes Zachhuber
In attendance: Frances Jenkins; Pamela Armstrong; Sarah Retz; Hilla Wait
Apologies: Pamela Anderson; John Barton; Timothy Bradshaw; Liz Carmichael; Mark
Chapman; John Chesworth; Hywel Clifford; Richard Conrad; Gavin Flood; Courtney Friesen;
Simon Gaine; James Hanvey; Sondra Hausner; Werner Jeanrond; Christine Joynes; Dave
Leal; Tim Mawson; Louise Nelstrop; Martyn Percy; Christopher Rowland; Tariq Ramadan;
Ignacio Silva; Katherine Southwood; Vince Vitale; Ralph Walker; Graham Ward; Hugh
Williamson; Nicholas Wood.
A word of welcome was offered by the chairman.
1. Minutes of meeting held on 28 November 2013: The minutes of the meeting held on
28 November 2013 were adopted with corrections noted: add David Lincicum to apologies
list; correct the spelling of Katherine Southwood’s name.
2. Matters arising: There were no matters arising not already on the agenda.
3. Admissions: Joel Rasmussen noted that admissions remains a college matter but some
elements of centralisation have been introduced to ensure equal opportunities to all
applicants and with the long term goal of increased applicants. The admissions committee
screens across the board to find the strongest applicants and with a particular eye on non-
standard applicants. The written work was marked by doctoral students. Interviews were
given according to the number of places with the same number of applicants for each place.
Thanks to the de-summoning process it was possible to assign second college interviews
consistently. Some elements need finessing but by and large the system is good.
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Statistics overview: applicants overall 245; 117 for the single school, 124 for Philosophy and
Theology and 4 for Oriental studies. 195 came to interview, 72 offers were made: 41 single
school; 30 Philosophy and Theology and 1 Theology and Oriental Studies.
4. Report from the Chairman of the Faculty Board
a) Appointments:The Templeton-funded Department Lectureship in Science and Religion has been awardedto Dr Donovan Schaefer, currently Mellon post-doctoral fellow at Haverford College.
The McDonald Post-doctoral fellow in Christian Ethics and Public Life will be Mr James Orr,graduate in Classics from Balliol, currently completing a PhD in philosophical theology inCambridge. An offer has been made for a second McDonald PDF.
The case for a 1-year departmental lecturer in Old Testament in association with St John’sCollege has been submitted to the Humanities Division.
b) New home for Faculty of Theology and ReligionProgress on the move to Gibson building is good.
c) DevelopmentFull funding for the Dean Ireland chair has been secured from UK donors. They have asked iftheir support can be acknowledged in some way, so currently exploring whether we can adda note to the statutes for the chair naming them as having made a substantial gift to securein perpetuity.
d) Other itemsCumberland Lodge: there is an opportunity for first year DPhils to be involved in conferenceprogramme. A call has been sent to students; looking for people interested in ethics and thebetterment of society.
There will be an end of term party which will provide an opportunity to say farewell to JohnBarton, Chris Rowland and other departing colleagues on Thursday 19 June at 4.30 atRegent’s Park College. All faculty members are warmly invited.
5. Lecture List: The chairman asked that corrections to the draft lecture list be sent in
writing to Sarah Retz.
6. Report from the Director of Undergraduate Studies
Joel Rasmussen expressed gratitude to Sarah Retz on improving the lecture listing system. A
working group will evaluate how in the future timetabling might best be organised to avoid
conflicts in lecture scheduling. He outlined the progress of the FHS new curriculum: it has
been seen by the external advisory panel, where it received a very positive response; it has
also been seen by the senior tutors committee, where it was generally well received but
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some critical remarks are being followed up; it will go finally to the Education Committee
next term (i.e. Trinity Term 2014).
7. Report from the Director of Graduate Studies
Nigel Biggar (Director of Graduate Studies Committee) reported that the admissions process
is underway. To date there is a 6% increase, with 264 applications already received. The
total number of applications last year was 282.
He noted that of the current applications the trend shows an increase of 27% for DPhil
applications; 18% fall in the MTh, though more applications will come in; and a fall of 9% in
PGDip applications.
Justin Hardin raised a concern that under current national rules students from outside the
EU on courses lasting less than twelve months can only bring dependants into the country
for a maximum of six months. He felt this may be adversely affecting applications to the MSt
and wondered if something can be done to address this problem. The chairman responded
that to date the scale of the problem doesn’t warrant a change of policy; however he would
welcome further correspondence on this matter and invited Justin to write to him.
Thanks were expressed to John Barton whose work on the standardisation of the MPhil
assessment, has been successfully completed.
Judith Wolfe was invited to report on graduate training provision.
The recent lunchtime workshops have been very well attended, and focussed ontransferable skills and skills development. The next workshop will be on publishing intheology, and will draw on the experience of academics and publishers.
A new teaching training scheme was also being pioneered, giving graduates teachingtraining, as well as the opportunity to teach FHS revision classes in Trinity term with theguidance of a faculty mentor.
Nigel thanked Judith for her energetic and pioneering work and noted that a replacementwill need to be found for Dr Wolfe, who will take up a new post next academic year at StAndrews University.
Finally it was noted that owing to the departure of Sarah Lunt a replacement graduate
administrator is currently being sought. In the meantime Pamela Armstrong is providing
administrative cover assisted by Marion Paine.
8. Minutes of the Committee for Library Provision
Joshua Hordern, chairman of the Committee for Library Provision noted that the Oxford
Centre for Hebrew Studies Library will move over the summer from Yarnton into the
Clarendon Institute on Walton Street, to the space currently housing the Chinese Studies
Library. Work on the arrangement of the Theology and Patristics book collections in the
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Lower Reading Room is ongoing, with the sections on philosophy of religion, science and
religion and psychology of religion moving to the Philosophy Reading Room, thus freeing up
space in the Theology Reading Room.
9. Open Access Presentation
Dr Wait gave a presentation on Open Access and its implications for theology.
Open Access, the principle that research publications should be freely available to all on
publication, has been supported in principle by funding bodies on a voluntary basis since the
Finch report was approved by the government in 2007. It became mandatory for those in
receipt of RCUK grants from April 2013. Many other funding bodies, for example, the
European Research Council and Wellcome Trust, require research papers to be published
open access, but will still allow publishing costs (the APC or article processing charge) to be
included in the grant application.
RCUK has developed a new funding mechanism which changes the way authors recover
their costs. Where previously, a researcher could bid in the original grant application for APC
costs, there is now an APC fund managed by the Bodleian Libraries on behalf of the
University. Oxford’s Open Access website has full instruction and a link to the application
form for APC funding http://openaccess.ox.ac.uk/applying-for-funding-from-oxfords-rcuk-
open-access-block-grant/. This is known as the GOLD route, where the publisher is receiving
extra money to compensate for potential loss of sales by giving universal instant online
access to the final published version of an article (the Version of Record). Costs per article
are set by the publisher and may run from as little as £99 to £3,000.
The University’s preference is that where possible authors should comply with Open Access
via the GREEN route. The article is published in a traditional subscription journal and the
author self-archives (uploads paper) into the University repository (ORA) and into a subject
repository (where appropriate). The Version of Record is not used for GREEN deposit, which
uses the “Author Accepted Manuscript” (after peer review, but before publisher formatting)
with a delay in the release of the article to the general public (generally 6 months (or 12
months for AHRC and ESRC). If the publisher or journal does not allow GREEN deposit, or
has set an embargo period longer than 12 months, then the article must be published GOLD
to comply with the RCUK regulations.
Information on publisher policies, and links to other sites, together with many useful FAQs,
may be found on the Oxford Open Access website http://openaccess.ox.ac.uk/. The
University’s Statement on Open Access emphasises that “our academics, researchers, staff
and students must be free to publish in the journal of their choice”. University policy
promotes ORA, the Oxford Research Archive, as its preferred repository, not just for GREEN
open access, but also for articles which have been published GOLD, and for articles where
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there is no open access requirement. HEFCE has just announced that to be eligible for
submission to the post-2014 REF, outputs must have been deposited in an institutional or
subject repository on acceptance for publication, and made open-access within a specified
time period.
Monographs have so far been excluded from the scope of open access, although a number
of initiatives have been exploring the possibilities. HEFCE has set up an Expert Reference
Group, chaired by Professor Geoffrey Crossick to investigate the issues. Professor Crossick
will be in Oxford on June 18th for the Open Access Monographs event (Radcliffe Humanities,
18 June, 2.00-5.30), and faculty members are encouraged to attend and ensure their views
are fed into the groups’ findings.
10. Date of next meeting: Thursday 12th June 2014
Draft Version 2 Paper 2
FACULTY OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
Lecture List for Michaelmas Term 2014
NOTICE: Non-members of the University may not attend university lectures (unless they areannounced as open to the general public) without payment of a fee, otherwise than by personalinvitation of the lecturer concerned. Persons who are neither reading for a qualification of this
University nor otherwise exempt, and who wish to attend lectures in any term, should apply to theBuildings and Events Manager, Examination Schools, for details of fees. At least three working days’notice is required before a lecture permit can be issued, to allow liaison with the department or facultyconcerned. Senior visiting scholars from other universities who wish to attend lectures, seminars, orclasses should normally apply to the lecturer concerned directly, and not to the Buildings and Events
Manager.
Lectures begin on the first possible day after the beginning of Full Term (Sunday, 12 October)unless otherwise stated.
Lectures will begin five minutes after the hour and finish at five minutes before the next hour.
Students are reminded that the Theology and Religion Faculty Board places importance onlectures and classes, and that an outline of material given in lectures will be given to
examiners who will take account of this information.
CL denotes a core lecture for the FHS Paper with the corresponding number (see the red FHSHandbooks for paper numbers). For Core Lectures of courses other than the FHS, please referto the relevant course handbook where they should be specified. Anything listed as a class is
intended SOLELY for students taking the paper concerned and anyone wishing to join notstudying the relevant paper should seek permission in advance from the class tutor to join.
Likewise anything listed as ‘graduate class’ is intended for graduates only. Students shouldcontact their supervisor if they need guidance about which lectures to attend.
Please note that there is a Lecture Description Booklet to accompany this List available in theFaculty office.
NB: The information below is subject to change. Please check the Faculty Website for themost up-to-date information: http://www.theology.ox.ac.uk
Subject Lecturer Time Place
LANGUAGES
CL7 New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen M, W, F. 9 Gibson Seminar Room B
CL7 New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen M, W, F. 10 Gibson Seminar Room B
CL7 New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen M, W, F. 11 Gibson Seminar Room B
CL8 Biblical Hebrew (forBeginners)
Ms Noll M, W, F. 10 Gibson Seminar Room A
CL9 Qur’ānic Arabic Dr Al-Akiti TBC TBC
CL10 Pali Mr Cousins M, W, F. 11 TBC
CL11 Sanskrit Prof. Flood M. 10, F. 10-12The Oxford Centre forHindu Studies
Optional GreekTranslation
Dr Friesen Th. 1 Gibson Seminar Room B
Post Graduate GreekReading
Dr Friesen Th. 2-4 Gibson Seminar Room B
Draft Version 2
Greek Text Class:Gospels and Jesus
TBC T. 1 Gibson Seminar Room B
Greek Text Class: Paul TBC M. 1 Gibson Seminar Room B
GraduateColloquium inBiblical and EarlyChristian Studies
Prof. Bockmuehl &Lincicum
2,4,6,8 Keble Hall
9PreliminaryExams/Languages
New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
9 PPSSRWRHinduism I:Sources andDevelopment
Prof. Flood 1-8 Schools: room 8
10 Languages Biblical Hebrew Ms Noll 1-8Gibson Seminarroom A
10PreliminaryExams/Languages
New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
11PreliminaryExams/Languages
New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
11PreliminaryExams/Languages
Pali Mr Cousins 1-8 TBC
3Moral and PastoralTheology
The Elements of aChristian Ethic(Graduate
Prof. Biggar 1-8South WestLodgings, ChristChurch
Faculty of Theology and ReligionTimetable of Lectures for Michaelmas Term 2014
Seminar)
5 PPSSRWRInterdisciplinarySeminar in theStudy of Religions
Prof. Hausner &Jones
1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
Thursday
Time Subject Title Lecturer Weeks Place
10 Preliminary ExamsIntroduction to
the Study ofReligions
Prof. Hausner 1-8 Schools: room 8
11PreliminaryExams/Languages
Introduction to theNew Testamentwith SpecialReference to theGospel of Mark
Prof. Lincicum &TBC
1-8 Schools: room 8
11History andDoctrine
The Nature andPractice ofEcclesiasticalHistory (GraduateClass)
Dr Apetrei &others
1,3,5,7Gibson Seminarroom B
11History andDoctrine
EcclesiasticalHistory Workshop(Graduate Class)
Dr Apetrei &others
2,4,6,8Gibson Seminarroom B
11History andDoctrine
Christology Dr Zahl 1-8Gibson LectureRoom
12 PPSSRWRPsychology ofReligion
Dr Petrovich 1-8 Schools: room 8
12 Preliminary ExamsHistory of thechurch from Neroto Constantine
Dr Rosenberg 1-8 Schools: room 2
12History andDoctrine
WesternChristianity andModern Culture,1789-1921
Prof. Rasmussen &Dr Lockley
1-8Gibson LectureRoom
1History andDoctrine
Further Studies inHistory andDoctrine(Kierkegaard)
Prof. Rasmussen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom A
1 LanguagesOptional GreekTranslation
Dr Friesen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
2 LanguagesPost GraduateGreek Reading
Dr Friesen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
Friday
Time Subject Title Lecturer Weeks Place
9PreliminaryExams/Languages
New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
10PreliminaryExams/Languages
New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
10 Languages Sanskrit Prof. Flood 1-8The Oxford Centrefor Hindu Studies
10 Languages Biblical Hebrew Ms Noll 1-8Gibson Seminarroom A
Faculty of Theology and ReligionTimetable of Lectures for Michaelmas Term 2014
11PreliminaryExams/Languages
New TestamentGreek
Dr Friesen 1-8Gibson Seminarroom B
11PreliminaryExams/Languages
Pali Mr Cousins 1-8 TBC
11.30History andDoctrine
Further Studies inHistory andDoctrine(Augustine)
Dr Edwards 1-8Gibson LectureRoom
2.30Biblical Studies
New TestamentSeminar TBC 1-8 Gibbs Room, Keble
Paper 4
OT Subject Group Meeting Minutes.5th May 2014, 4:30 - 5pm. Theology Faculty Annexe.
Present: Professor John Barton, Professor Hugh Williamson, Dr Sue Gillingham, Dr KatherineSouthwoood, Dr John Jarick, Dr James Robinson, Dr Hywell Clifford, Dr Deborah Rooke, KatiaKozlova,
Apologies: None
Minutes from last meeting: ACCEPTED.
Matters arising:Lectures and classes for next term. Until we know who is in place, the majority of classes and lecturewill have to be understood as “pending” depending on the new Departmental Lecturer, on when thenew Oriel and Laing Professor begins, and on what the new Regius Professor of Hebrew is willing toteach.
Biblical Hebrew Prelims. Sonja Noll term one. Second term: Katia Kozlova Introduction to OT:
1. New DL. Dr John Jarick.2. Pentateuch. Dr Hywell Clifford.3. Prophets. Dr James Robinson4. Apocalyptic. New DL (Departmental Lecturer).5. Archaeology. John Day.6. Historical books. Deborah Rooke.7. Wisdom. John Jarick.8. Psalms. Dr Sue Gillingham.Genesis 1-11. New DL.
History of Israel and Theological Themes in OT. History of Israel: New DL; Themes: JohnJarick.
Genesis 6-9 in Hebrew. New DL. Isaiah Hebrew Text. John Jarick.
Any other business: 30 June is the deadline for those who have given papers in the Wisdom series atthe Old Testament Seminar to hand them in to Dr John Jarick.Many thanks to Professor John Barton for organizing the OT seminar for over twenty years.Many thanks to Professor Hugh Williamson for his contribution to the Theology Faculty lectures forover twenty years.
K.E.S
Paper 5
NEW TESTAMENT SUBJECT GROUP
Trinity Term 2014
A meeting of the New Testament Subject Group was held on Tuesday, 13 May (3rd Week) at4.30pm in the Seminar Room at the Theology and Religion Faculty Annexe, 41 St Giles.
1. In attendance: David Lincicum (chair), Mary Marshall, Ben Edsall, CourtneyFriesen, Nicholas King, Eric Eve
Apologies were noted from AKM Adam, Andrew Gregory, Benjamin Johnson,Christine Joynes, Larry Kreitzer, Michael Lakey, Christopher Rowland.
On leave: Markus Bockmuehl, Justin Hardin.
2. Minutes of HT 2014 Meeting were agreed as a true record.
3. Matters arising. None.
4. Teaching arrangements for MT 2014. The following arrangements were agreed, withpostholder assignments to await clarity on the appointment of the Dean Ireland Professor:
* Introduction to the New Testament with Special Reference to the Gospel of Mark: CL3(Prelims), Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11-12, weeks 1-8* Gospel of John, CL2, Mondays, 12-1pm, weeks 1-6* Introduction to Paul, CL3, Mondays, 2-3pm, weeks 1-8* Special Topics in New Testament: The Theological Interpretation of the New Testament,CL6, Fridays, 12-1.30pm, weeks 1-8 (Zahl/Lincicum)* Graduate Colloquium in Biblical and Early Christian Studies, Keble Hall, 8.15-9.45am,Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 (Lincicum/Bockmuehl)* New Testament Seminar, Fridays 2.30-4pm, Gibbs Room, Keble College, Weeks 1-8
5. Oxbridge Day. The joint meeting with Cambridge would take place Friday of 5th week (30May 2014), and members were encouraged to come along to support the exchange.
6. Greek teaching by postgraduate students. The group considered a paper brought byDavid Lincicum which made the case, in light of the departure of Justin Hardin and NickKing at the end of this academic year, for the appointment of postgraduate students toundertake Greek set-text teaching for the Gospels & Jesus and Pauline Literature papers. Sucharrangements are envisaged under the new curriculum, and so this proposal simply bringsforward that desideratum to meet the anticipated shortfall in teaching provision fromMichaelmas 2015, as well as supplying sought-after teaching experience for our postgraduatestudents. The proposal was warmly received, with the exhortation that some thought be givento the timing of the set text classes in order to maximize pedagogical progression andavailability to students. DL to take forward with PRC, USC and GSC.
7. New Testament Seminar in 2014-2015. Rather than separate Graduate and SeniorSeminars, in 2014-2015 we will experiment with one amalgamated New Testament Seminar,with advertising differentiating the content of the individual sessions. The group favoureddoing this on a trial basis, paying particular attention to whether graduate students feltcomfortable enough to express their ideas freely in the presence of senior members.
8. Library matters. Three points of library matters suggested by Dr. Hordern wereconsidered. Attention was drawn to the need to review standing orders and identify placeswhere costs could be shared with other faculties. Mary Marshall kindly agreed to representNew Testament on the working party chaired by Dr. Hordern. Finally, the Open AccessMonographs Forum on 18 June was noted.
9. Edition of the Greek New Testament for an MPhil Examination. The meetingdiscussed informally a question from an MPhil Examiner, about whether the group would behappy, in principle, with the substitution of the Nestle-Aland text for the UBS text of theGreek New Testament for examination purposes, given that no edition was specified in examregulations. It was agreed to recommend this in principle, while not wishing to preempt theMPhil in Judaism and Christianity exam board, which would need to take a decision on thematter.
10. AOB. Justin Hardin (in absentia) and Nick King were warmly thanked for their years ofservice, this being their final subject group meeting. Members were also reminded of thespecial seminar marking the retirement of Chris Rowland, on Friday of 7th week in Keble.
DNL21.5.2014
Paper 6
Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of OxfordHistory, Doctrine and Ethics Subject Group
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 13 May 2014 (3rd week TT) at 11am in the Board Room,Theology Faculty Centre (34 St Giles)
PresentDr Michael Burdett (Secretary), Dr Mark Edwards, Dr James Hanvey, Dr Josh Hordern, Dr Philip Kennedy, DrMichael Lloyd, Dr Joel Rasmussen, Dr Stan Rosenberg, Prof Graham Ward (Chair), Dr Judith Wolfe, Dr BillWood, Dr Johannes Zachhuber, Dr Simeon Zahl
ApologiesDr Sarah Apetrei, Dr Andrew Atherstone, Prof Nigel Biggar, Dr Timothy Bradshaw, Prof Sarah Foot, DrSimon Gaine, Dr Werner Jeanrond, Dr Simon Jones, Dr David Leal, Dr Judith Maltby, Dr Andrew Moore, DrRobin Ward
1. Minutes From Last Meeting (4 February 2014)
The minutes were passed with no revisions.
2. Matter Arising
Action items from the previous meeting were resolved and closed (if they aren’t present here they are dealtwith below as a separate item):-Prof Ward reported the postgraduate revision courses were presently taking place.-Prof Ward reported Prof Alister McGrath would be willing to take on students outside of the area ofScience and Religion.-Dr Burdett reported that the list of student preferences for the special theologian’s paper circulated in thelast meeting did include students from Pembroke, St Peters, and St Johns.-Dr Hordern circulated the library standing orders prior to this meeting and is discussed below.
3. Chair’s Noticesa. Doctrine Teaching Next Year
Many of the faculty that teach doctrine for the faculty will be on sabbatical, leaving at the end of thisyear to take up posts elsewhere or they will be given other academic administrative duties and willnot be able to teach their normal load in doctrine. Prof Ward put to the group the possibility ofputting together a new post to fill this gap. The majority agreed something needed to be done. DrWolfe asked whether this new post would be temporary or permanent. Prof Ward suggested it couldbe long-term because other universities (King’s College, London and Cambridge) aren’t accepting asmany graduate students in doctrine and could count this appointment as a strategic move for thefuture of the faculty. Dr Edwards asked if this appointment would be a departmental lectureship towhich Prof Ward said he thought it would. Dr Edwards pointed out this kind of appointment mightnot help with undergraduate teaching then. Dr Zachhuber asserted undergraduate and graduateteaching ought to be dealt with separately anyway. He also added that the creation of this post willunlikely help alleviate the situation for next year given the time it takes to appoint someone. DrRosenberg inquired if there were funds available from those bodies that are funding sabbaticals andadministrative appointments. Dr Zachhuber said the funds generally come from colleges (becausethey are college appointments) and couldn’t be used to alleviate a faculty problem and faculty chairsdon’t receive any buy-out funds. Dr Rasmussen said the appointment of another lecturer seemed
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warranted because the majority of applications are in the area of doctrine. Dr Edwards intimated DrWood, Dr Apetrei and Dr Fiddes could fill in some gaps and Prof Ward intimated there is a greaterissue with graduate teaching than undergraduate. Dr Wolfe asked if Wycliffe Hall would be willing tocombine their part-time appointment in doctrine with further faculty teaching to make a full-timepost. Dr Lloyd expressed that this would be feasible but that it would need to happen quickly.
b. Consultation of MPhil Students About Examining Practices
Prof Ward queried a selection of MPhil students in doctrine regarding the examination of theircourse at the end of the course rather than splitting it up with examinations occurring at the end ofthe first year as well. Specifically, he asked how they felt about placing the examination of the‘Methods and Styles of Theology’ paper at the end of the first year. The overwhelming majoritythought it was a very good idea. Dr Edwards inquired whether the marks from this paper would bereleased after the first year. He was concerned that if a student failed the first year whether this mightbe psychologically detrimental going into the second year. Prof Ward is going to consult otherfaculty’s policy regarding the release of marks after the first year. Profs Hordern and Wood said thismodel would not be possible for ethics or philosophical theology. Both Drs Biggar and Leftow wereagainst this model for their theological streams. Prof Ward asked whether their students would sharethis opinion and suggested they ought to ask their own students.
4. Library Mattersa. Humanities funding for interdisciplinary texts/journals
James Legg (Head of Bodleian Humanities Libraries) advises that there is a Humanities GeneralFund for this purpose which is top-sliced from individual Faculty budgets. This fund is already quitestretched. Funding for journals/texts which are interdisciplinary in nature could be gathered:• from the existing fund, although, as indicated, there is not much funding to achieve this• by increasing the top-slicing from all Humanities Faculty budgets to supplement the existingfund• by increasing the top-slicing from specific Humanities Faculty budgets to create more specialisedfunds.
One practical step forward suggested by James Legg and Hilla Wait would be to form a MedievalStudies fund top-sliced from interested Faculties. Other such funds are conceivable. A secondpractical step forward concerns the review of standing orders (see attached list); there is a columnwhich allows the reviewer to recommend continuing or discontinuing the Faculty’s purchase ofstanding order titles. However, the list also has a column which has been included with a view toeither:• suggesting a standing order is not kept on in the Theology and Religion budget but ratheradopted by another Faculty who wish the University to keep receiving texts from the standing order.• suggesting that the cost of continuing to receive a standing order is borne by one or moreFaculties in addition to the Faculty of Theology and Religion.
A working party to review the standing orders is being established, with representatives from eachsubject area in the Faculty. Comments and feedback on this process are welcome, as are offers ofhelp.
Prof Ward found the idea of sharing resources with other faculties in areas of commonality, such aswith Medieval Studies, particularly suitable. Dr Rasmussen inquired about the specific targetpercentage by which each area would be required to reduce their standing orders. Dr Hordern willcalculate this and send it to the representative from that subdiscipline. As it stands the followinghave been recruited to go through the list: Dr Edwards, Dr Moore, Dr Hordern and Dr Marshall.
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No one else volunteered during the meeting. Dr Hordern agreed to ask the study of religions facultyto nominate a member to be responsible for addressing the library standing orders in their field ofpurview. It is likely several may need to be appointed to account for the diversity of religions(Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam etc.). Dr Lloyd asked if a Hebrew Bible and liturgist candidate hadbeen nominated. Dr Hordern will invite suitable faculty.
b. Library standing orders - for review
The list was circulated to everyone. Further details of the discussion found above.
c. Open access monographs event, June 18 (2.00-5.30)
This was announced to the group.
5. Any Other Business
James Hanvey inquired if the faculty would be restricting the number of doctoral candidates given thediscussion. Prof Ward said that decision is made by the Graduate Studies Committee. Dr Zachhuberintimated the university still strongly encourages applications in the humanities in spite of the trend visiblewith Cambridge and Kings College, London. Several raised the issue of faculty requirements to supervisedoctoral candidates. Prof Ward publically acknowledge Dr Wolfe’s contribution to the faculty as this was herlast faculty meeting before moving to the University of St Andrews. A new chair of the subcommittee willbe in place for the next meeting.
6. Actions
-Prof Ward will talk to other faculties about their examining practices for the two year master’s degreecourses. If they do examine after the first year, do they release the marks before the student hasgraduated?
-Dr Hordern will calculate how much (percentage) each disciplinary subgroup needs to cull from theirlibrary standing orders. This will help those going through the list to know the target.
-Dr Hordern will ask the study of religions faculty to nominate a member to be responsible for addressingthe library standing orders in their field of purview. It is likely several may need to be appointed toaccount for the diversity of religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam etc.).
-Dr Hordern will invite a Hebrew Bible faculty member and liturgy specialist to address the library standingorders.
Paper 7
BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION
Faculty of Theology and Religion
Study of Religion (SoR) Subject Group
There was a meeting of the Study of Religion (SoR) Subject Groupon Thursday, 29 May, Fifth Week, at 2.15pm
in the Board Room at the Theology and Religion Faculty Centre, 34 St. Giles
MINUTES
Present: Sondra Hausner (Chair), Justin Jones, Mark Edwards, Jan Westerhoff, Peggy
Morgan, Carlos Frankel, Stefano Zacchetti, Rembert Lutjeharms, Joanna Weinberg
1. Apologies: John Chesworth, Florence Gurung, Gavin Flood, MartinGoodman, Martyn Percy, Olivera Petrovich, Tariq Ramadan and MartinWhittingham
2. Notice of any additional business
None.
3. Minutes of the previous meeting
No amendments were suggested.
4. Matters arising
It was reported that the Grey Book revisions do not represent the current form of
the curriculum, and need updating. The Faculty Office is awaiting the hard copy
of the 2015 grey book and will ensure that approved regulations are printed
correctly.
PM reported that exam reports etc are not yet available online.
5. Update on new curriculum in Theology and Religion
Timescale
PM asked about the timescale for the implementation of the new curriculum. SH
stated that it is hoped that the new curriculum will be approved for recruiting in
October 2014, allowing for the uptake of the new curriculum by incoming
students in 2015-16.
Elements of the new curriculum
There was some discussion of elements of particular aspects of the new
curriculum, especially on the matter of the introduction of Honours examinations
in the second year, with some parties feeling that the system would increase
pressure on second-year students and add to strain on examiners. It could also
possibly create staff pressure in the case of certain high-demand papers. Others
suggested that the new curriculum will enhance student choice, alleviate pressure
upon third-year students, and balance teaching out across three terms. SH reported
that these issues were discussed, and decisions made, at the meeting of the
Undergraduate Committee meeting, and that consultations cannot be open ended.
SH also reported that the current situation is that the details of the new curriculum
are now with the senior tutors and Education Committee, and are pending
confirmation.
Language provision for finalists
SH reported that there was consensus within the Faculty that any student
graduating to Full Honours School in Theology should have completed a language
paper. In the case of students changing course, this would necessitate the
implementation of language papers that could serve as qualifying examinations for
finalists. Such papers could be the same as Preliminary Examinations, with an
additional code such that they could also serve the purpose of Finalists meeting
language requirements.
6. Teaching offered 2014-15
SH reported that teaching for the next academic year is in good shape. SH will be
lecturing on Introduction to the Study of Religion, and SH and JJ on Nature of
Religion. Teaching should be in place for the papers on Judaism, Hinduism,
Buddhism and Islam respectively. SH is to check teaching provision for languages
(Pali, Sanskrit and Arabic).
PM and others stated that the Study of Religion Teachers’ Group would like, in
the future, to see a paper in Christianity with a Study of Religions focus (e.g. on
World or non-Western Christianity), certainly at graduate and ultimately at
undergraduate level.
7. Interdisciplinary seminars in the Study of Religions 2014-15
SH and JJ will be convening a seminar series for the coming academic year
focused upon particular methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches to the
Study of Religion (e.g. history, anthropology, visuality). This would be geared
towards scholars and graduates, and it was decided that approximately 16 speakers
would be sought at first (to cover the first six weeks of Michaelmas and Hilary,
and the first four of Trinity, with the plan to hold seminars with shorter graduate
papers in the last two weeks of Michaelmas and Hilary). PM reported that there
should be limited funds available, which would be ample to bring in some
speakers from outside Oxford.
JJ promised to email the Study of Religions Teaching Group to consult regarding
possible themes and speakers, and to further discuss the day and timings of the
seminar. The seminar will be held in the Gibson Building.
8. Library matters
SH reported that the Library Committee wishes to clean out old standing orders
for journal subscriptions etc,, and locate potential Faculties where the cost of
journals might be shared. JJ will act on the Library Committee to review this list
on behalf of the group. SH will send the spreadsheets of subscriptions to JJ and
JW.
9. Any other business
SZ reported on the introduction of a new MPhil in Religious Studies, which
becomes open for admission in 2014-15 and for which teaching will start in 2015-
16. Students on this paper will have to take an optional paper, and the graduate
class in Nature of Religion will be included, as might others. SZ will initiate
discussions for non-language modules across faculties.
10. Time and place for the next meeting
SH reported that this would be her last meeting as Chair, and the Chair and Group
thanked each other for their work and contributions. JW will now take over as
Chair. Meetings will continue to be held termly on Thursday afternoons, and the
next meeting will be in Week 5 of Michaelmas, November 15th, Gibson Building.
Paper 8
The Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion & the Curators of the Bodleian Libraries
Minutes of the Committee on Library Provision and Strategy in
Theology and Religion, Tuesday 6 May 2014
Present: Dr M Blyth, Dr C. Cook, Professor Foot, Dr J. Hordern (Chair), Dr D. Leal, Mr J. Legg, Mr J.Ritzema, Dr S Rosenberg, Ms S. Ross, Dr H. Wait, Rev. E. Walsh.
There were no conflicts of interests declared.
1. Apologies/welcome to new members
Apologies were received from Dr K. Southwood.
Mr John Ritzema, graduate student representative, and Ms Sophie Ross, undergraduate studentrepresentative, were welcomed to the committee.
2. Minutes of the previous meeting (28 January, 2014)
The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as an accurate record with one correction to item8.2 which should read ‘Index Religiosus: International Bibliography of Theology, Church History andReligious Studies’.
3. Matters arising
3.1 (Minute 3.1) Open Access
Dr Wait reported on the Open Access presentation given to the meeting of the Faculty of Theologyand Religion which the Faculty had found helpful.
Dr Wait reported that the consultation phase of the project was complete and it had been agreed to goahead with reclassification. Funding the project had been an issue and caused delays. Dr Waitdescribed a less costly, in-house, option whereby a dataset and printed Library of Congressshelfmarks could be purchased and library staff undertake the physical work. Alternatively, it mightstill be possible to proceed with the full project in the following financial year.
The committee supported the reclassification project.
3.3 (Minute 6.1) Access and use of Reader Workroom
Dr Wait reported that the Radcliffe Humanities Building Committee had been informed of this potentialextension of library opening hours to the Reader Workroom to provide 24-hour access for use ofBibleworks and Electronic Legal Deposit. There had been no objections to this plan. The PhilosophyCLiPS had also welcomed the proposal.
3.4 Other
3.4.1 (Minute 8.2) Revue d’Histoire Ecclésiastique and Elenchus Bibliographicus Biblicus
Dr Hordern asked if this database (Index Religiosus) had been purchased and, if so, had the hardcopy been removed from the open shelves? Dr Wait reported the open-shelf set, now closed, had notbeen removed. The suggestion that the hard copy could be removed was discussed by the committeeand it was agreed to delegate the decision on this matter to Professor Foot and Dr Hordern.
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3.4.2 (Minute 3.7) New books display
Mr Ritzema asked for an update on the New Books display in the Tower Room. Dr Wait reportedongoing discussion was taking place with the Classics Librarian about consolidating the display. Thecommittee had no objections to consolidation. The committee agreed the display should be refreshedeach month.
3.4.3 (Minute 3.6) Any other business (Pusey House Library)
Mr Ritzema asked for an update on the committee set up to promote the Pusey House collection. DrWait reported that the new Pusey House library committee was to meet on the following day, and shewould keep the committee informed. It was noted that members of the University were alreadywelcome to use the library and she would liaise with the student representatives over strategies topromote the use and availability of the library space.
4 Bodleian Libraries update
4.1 Bodleian Humanities Libraries general update.
Mr Legg reported that the new China Centre Library is due to open on time.
Mr Legg highlighted the opening hours of the Leopold Muller Memorial Library. Mr Ritzema reportedthat graduate students would much appreciate having access to the library in its new home on WaltonStreet.
The report was received by the Committee
4.2 Duke Humfrey
Mr Legg reported on the plans for Selden End (Duke Humfrey’s Library) after Maps and Music moveto the new Weston Library. It was due to re-open at the beginning of Michaelmas term (13
thOctober
2014) as a reader services reading room. There would be an increase in historical reference materialand it would remain a quiet reading room with a laptop-free zone. There would be a staff presence forsecurity reasons.
Professor Foot commented on the very poor lighting in the galleries. Mr Legg agreed to investigatealternatives to the current lighting system.
4.3 Weston Collection – move of Special Collections
The report was received by the Committee.
4.4 Electronic Legal Deposit (ELD)
Mr Legg reported an increase of 32% of material being deposited since the libraries began receivingELD. A technical solution had not been found to the problem created by legal constraints on printingELD material. The British Library was hoping to develop a solution in 6 – 9 months’ time. There werecurrently two temporary solutions the Libraries could develop:
1 Ordering a printed copy using the ‘print and scan’ process currently available in SOLO.2 Staff mediated printing.
Dr Leal asked how ELD would impact on some disabled library users who may, for example, need toread from a printed copy. Dr Wait replied that someone with a physical visual disability would still beentitled to special arrangements, but someone with a processing/comprehension disability, for
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example, dyslexia, would not be entitled to an exemption. However, until the printing solution was inoperation, even visually-impaired students may experience delays in sourcing alternatives.
4.5 Finances
Mr Legg reported the Libraries finances were meeting targets and an uplift of 5% in the materialsbudget had been agreed for next year.
5. Bodleian Library
5.1 Consolidation/reclassification in the Lower Reading Rom
Dr Wait reported that this project was ongoing and the Philosophy CLiPS had agreed to thereclassification scheme. The length of time required to map, reclassify and move the collections hasnot been determined although good progress should be made during the Long Vacation. Dr Hordernasked if this was a priority for Dr Wait, who confirmed that it would be her summer project. ProfessorFoot stressed this importance of prioritising and completing this project soon, as it had been ongoingfor two years. It was noted that the work would also require assistance from staff in the LowerReading Room. Vanessa Corrick, head of Reader Services in the Bodleian, would be consulted.
6 Philosophy and Theology Faculties Library
6.1 Proposed review of PTFL – the first two years
Dr Wait reported that the Philosophy CLiPS had proposed that a report was compiled, focusing on thefirst two years of the PTF Library.
The committee’s opinion was that it was too early for such a report and that Dr Wait’s time should bebetter spent completing the work in the Lower Reading Room [see item 5.1]. It was agreed to suggesta 3- or even 5-year period for such a review.
6.2 Weeding strategy
Dr Wait presented the strategy document to the committee. Dr Hordern asked whether items onlyused in the library (not borrowed) could be included in the statistics used for weeding decisionmaking. Dr Wait reported that the methodology and technical processes to gather this informationwere being investigated, and she would report to the committee at the next meeting on feasibility.The committee accepted that the weeding strategy was sound, given the limitations in the spaceavailable.
Dr Hordern asked about the ratio of shelf space between the two subjects. Dr Wait reported that theproportion of items purchased and, therefore, represented on the open shelves, reflected the funding.The effect of the high number/cost of Theology standing orders in the Bodleian reduced the moneyavailable for Theology purchases for the PTFL and this could impact on the number of items on theshelves. At the time of the move however, analysis of the collections showed a slight majority oftheology items, both on the open shelves and in the BSF.
The committee approved the weeding strategy document and requested that it be published on thePTFL website [now availablehttp://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/169045/CLiPS-THE-14.2-Item-6.2-Weeding-policy-PTFL-rev..pdf].
7 Library materials
7.1 Expenditure to date 2013-14
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Dr Wait reported that a change in the allocation of money between databases and other electronicpurchases had recently come to her attention and the current table of expenditure, therefore, did notreflect the true financial situation.
Dr Wait reminded the committee that requests for new books were always welcome. The committeemembers were reminded to encourage subject groups and tutors to send reading lists to Dr Wait.
7.2 Standing orders
Dr Wait presented a spreadsheet to the committee which would be circulated to the standing orderworking party to assist with the de-selection of serials from the standing order list. Dr Wait stressedthat this was to save on future “unwanted” purchases and did not prevent the purchase of individualvolumes when required. Mr Legg suggested an extra column is added to the spread sheet whichwould offer a particular title to another subject. The three choices would be ‘yes’ to deselect, ‘no’ tokeep, or ‘offer’.
The committee agreed to choose working party members from across the subject areas. Dr Hordernwould report back at the next CLiPS meeting on the working party’s progress.
7.3 Proposed Humanities budgets for interdisciplinary items
Mr Legg reported the advantage and disadvantage of top-slicing payments for essentialinterdisciplinary electronic resources. This would have an impact on individual libraries budgets andsomeone responsible for managing this budget would need to be found.
8 Journals and electronic resources.
8.1 Theology journals update, TT 2014
The update was noted and the committee welcomed the proposed purchase of Gregory of NyssaOnline.
8.2 Theology electronic resources update TT 2014
The update was noted by the committee.
8.3 Tablet project
Dr Wait reported the remit of the Tablet working party to explore the potential of using iPads andlarge, desktop, tablet devices in libraries. A grant from the Higher Studies Fund had enabled thepurchase of 3 iPads and 5 desktop screens.
The committee supported this initiative.
9 User Education
To note: the WISER session on Medieval Studies, 16 May, 20—4.00, 13 Banbury Road.
10 Junior members
Mr Ritzema reported that some students would welcome further follow-up courses during the yearafter the Michaelmas term induction sessions. Dr Wait replies that follow-up courses had generallybeen subject-based in recent years, for example, Church History or Medieval Studies, but she wouldbe delighted to offer some more general courses. Ms Ross requested that undergraduate studentswere made more aware of developments and they needed more general notifications and information.
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Dr Wait agreed to meet with both student representatives to discuss these matters more fully.
11 Humanities CLiPS
11.1 Minutes of Humanities CLiPS (HT 2014)
The minutes were noted by the committee.
11.2 Items to take to Humanities CLiPS
The committee requested that the delayed reclassification and consolidation project in the LowerReading Room be taken to the next Humanities CLiPS.
12 Any other business
Dr Wait reported the resignation of Mr John Shimmin, Library Assistant, who would be leaving thelibrary service on 24
thJune to study Japanese in Japan. His last working day would be 13
thJune.
The committee wished to express their gratitude for Mr Shimmin’s work at the library over the last 6years.
