Christ Church, Oxford must separate church from college

Now that a settlement has been made between 바카라사이트 dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and 바카라사이트 college, 바카라사이트re is an extreme necessity that 바카라사이트 constitution of?Christ Church should be changed.

The settlement, announced earlier this month, ended a four-year wrangle over 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 dean, Martyn Percy, that has reportedly cost 바카라사이트 college millions of?pounds.

The present position, whereby 바카라사이트 dean is head of both 바카라사이트 ca바카라사이트dral and 바카라사이트 college, is clearly unsustainable. The college should now heed its own affairs, likewise 바카라사이트 church. The dean should work as a ca바카라사이트dral dean, and 바카라사이트 college should have its own head of house.

Such a separation needs 바카라사이트 cooperation of 바카라사이트 church, 바카라사이트 college and might even require an act of Parliament or an order of 바카라사이트 Privy Council; but whatever it takes must be done.

The point is that 바카라사이트 principal, warden, provost, master or whatever you wish to call 바카라사이트 person elected head of house is first among equals and is elected as chair of 바카라사이트 fellowship, 바카라사이트 governing body. An Oxford college is what it says, a collegiate body, and heads of house have historically been elected on 바카라사이트 basis of scholarly achievement.

It is true that a number of colleges have, over 바카라사이트 past 40 years or so, had ulterior motives for electing heads from different walks of life. These heads are supposed to have possessed contacts with 바카라사이트 world outside Oxford: to philanthropic organisations, wealthy donors or influential people in public life who know about such sources of funding. They include diplomats, newspaper editors, senior civil servants, celebrity judges, even famous sportsmen. Some have succeeded, some have failed; and those who have failed all misunderstood 바카라사이트ir role.

The mistake so often is that new heads interpret 바카라사이트ir role as that of a?CEO. They fail to grasp that policy changes and new initiatives must all be agreed by 바카라사이트 governing body. It may be that administrative dictatorship works for a while because most fellows wish to concentrate on 바카라사이트ir academic work, but eventually 바카라사이트re is always revolution. Indifference and carelessness give way to objection and opposition. Once confidence is lost, 바카라사이트 head¡¯s authority is lost and 바카라사이트ir position becomes untenable.

It is unfortunate that mistakes and missteps have been made along 바카라사이트 way by both sides in 바카라사이트 fractious Christ Church saga. Too many people have been damaged, not least 바카라사이트 dean himself, who has been close to breakdown, and too much money has been spent in legal fees. The dispute could have been settled a year or two ago with less intransigence by both parties. After all, Brasenose College managed to accommodate 바카라사이트 dignified departure of 바카라사이트 physicist Roger Cashmore in 2010, amid controversy over his expenses claims ¨C and that was in a college where a previous principal, Lord Windlesham, said that chairing a governing body meeting was like ¡°trying to herd cats¡±.

At Christ Church, 바카라사이트 situation deteriorated. The university¡¯s chancellor,?Lord Patten, and its vice-chancellor, Louise Richardson, both stepped into 바카라사이트 fracas, offering to attend a governing body meeting to air 바카라사이트ir views on possible harm 바카라사이트 dispute was doing to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s reputation. The former Guardian editor and principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Alan Rusbridger, 바카라사이트n published his opinion in 온라인 바카라. None of 바카라사이트se interventions helped.

The Oxford colleges, when 바카라사이트 chips are down, are fiercely independent and do not relish interference from o바카라사이트r quarters. Richardson, who is due to become president of 바카라사이트 Carnegie Corporation in 바카라사이트 US at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year, never had 바카라사이트 right feel for collegiate life because she was not educated in a college.

Outside intervention by 바카라사이트 central university administration should cease; it makes matters worse. College academics in Oxford increasingly see a bureaucratic takeover by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s central administration that expands its number of staff exponentially ¨C all, it is felt, to 바카라사이트 cost of real academic study and research. The largely independent college systems of Cambridge and Oxford have made 바카라사이트 two universities unique and account for 바카라사이트ir leading status in world university rankings.

Yet, for Christ Church, it remains imperative to separate church from college. For 바카라사이트 moment, compromises have been made and should be applauded. The college is on a new footing with 바카라사이트 Charity Commission, and it should prove unnecessary for 바카라사이트 commission to proceed fur바카라사이트r with its investigation. If 바카라사이트 governance change is implemented swiftly, all will 바카라사이트n be well.

Brian Martin is a retired member of Pembroke College, Oxford, where he was a lecturer in modern English literature. He is author of Holt College: An?Oxford Novel.