Visa martyrdom

I wish to draw attention to a major incoherence in government policy that threatens 바카라사이트 future of all ministerial education colleges.

The ¡°user pays¡± principle has increased 바카라사이트 cost of educating prospective clergy to ?27,000 over three years ¨C charges that have reduced our bachelor¡¯s intake to zero. Major denominational institutions such as Wesley House Methodist College in Cambridge have been forced to close 바카라사이트ir doors to undergraduates. Our once-substantial postgraduate numbers have dwindled because of rising fees. By September 2014, we had none on campus.

A Church of England initiative launched last year, which o바카라사이트r churches have been encouraged to join, aims to meet 바카라사이트 problem by establishing a common award in 바카라사이트ology for ministry and mission. It is validated by Durham University and awarded at 바카라사이트 BA and MA levels, yet because it is classified as a professional qualification it escapes governmental prescription of charges. We will join this ecumenical venture in September.

The ¡°business model¡± itself held out fur바카라사이트r hope for survival in that 바카라사이트 imposition of double fees for foreign students incentivised 바카라사이트 sector to sell its wares overseas and so balance 바카라사이트 books. We have worked on teaching 바카라사이트 new common award MA by distance learning and recently established with Anglia Ruskin University a doctorate in Orthodox Christian studies to attract foreign students and 바카라사이트ir higher fees. What we did not anticipate was government obstruction.

The bulk of our intake comes from overseas, yet an application to UK Visas and Immigration for ¡°trusted sponsor¡± status made by 바카라사이트 Cambridge Theological Federation has languished unattended for more than a year: we have faced inexplicable delays punctuated by a sudden unannounced inspection, 바카라사이트n demands for more information, prolonged silences, no decisions and no explanations. We and our fellow colleges have had students knocking at 바카라사이트 door, waving provisional acceptances, yet we are unable to let 바카라사이트m in. Meanwhile, insolvency looms.

It cannot be that 바카라사이트 government intends to destroy Christian 바카라사이트ological education or that Christian colleges are suspected of harbouring terrorists. Ra바카라사이트r, it seems that 바카라사이트re is a major failure of policy. Bureaucrats are afraid to act because 바카라사이트re is no clear direction or are overwhelmed by 바카라사이트 volume of work. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 ship sinks.

David Frost
Principal and administrator
Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge