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Select Committee on Theological College Accommodation – Report 2000

SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE PROVISION FOR MARRIED STUDENTS
AT THE THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
REPORT 2000
The need for adequate provision for married students at the Theological College was highlighted by the Commission on Ministry in its report of 1981.  Since then the matter has been raised from time to time in relevant debates in the General Synod, with no positive outcome.  At the General Synod of 1998, a resolution was passed authorising the setting up of a Select Committee to investigate the position of married students at the Theological College, and to provide an interim report in 1999 and a final report with recommendations to the Synod meeting in the year 2000.
members
Mr VG Carson (Chairman)
Mrs AA Bedlow (Secretary)
Most Rev RL Clarke, Bishop of Meath and Kildare 
Mr AC McElhinney
Rev Canon JR Bartlett
Rev M Graham
Co-opted members
Rev W Quigley
Canon S Laing
Rev K Homfray
The Select Committee met nine times.
summary
The committee conducted research among married students who had attended the college in recent years, Diocesan Directors of Ordinands, theological colleges in England and Wales, grant provision in England and Ireland and property rental costs convenient to the Theological College.
Generally married students are treated similarly to single students except that additional grants are paid.  Dublin based married students continue to live at their homes.  Some married students moved their spouse/family to the Dublin area (renting local accommodation) while other families remained at home with the student staying in college during weekday term time.  The cost of renting accommodation convenient to the Theological College is high.
The committee recognised the complexity of the problems relating to married students and made the following recommendations:
i)	Sufficient financial support should be provided for married students to eliminate financial anxiety with regard to the provision of accommodation.  This additional support should be financed largely from diocesan resources.
ii)	Continuing pastoral support for the married student and his/her family must ultimately rest with the bishop of the sponsoring diocese.
iii)	Term life assurance should be provided ‘without prejudice’ for all married students.
To help prevent many of the difficulties (real or perceived) which students face, a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ should be provided for each student.  This may be drawn up by the DDO but must be signed by the bishop and the student involved.  It would cover such items as:
a)	Central Grant Provision and any diocesan provision
b)	Where the student and family will live
c)	Pastoral Support – college chaplain, home parish etc
d)	Life and health insurance needs as appropriate
e)	Any other issues deemed important by the student or the bishop.
An annual review meeting between the student and his/her bishop to discuss progress and needs is seen as a requisite.
1.	introduction
The committee began its work by conducting some research amongst married students currently in training, past students who were married before entering college, and those who had married during their time at college, from 1992 to 1999.  The questionnaire (see Appendix A) asked for factual information and gave opportunity for comment on any other issue deemed of value to the committee.  Responses came from almost all those in this sample.
A Questionnaire was sent to the Diocesan Directors of Ordinands to ascertain what specific issues relating to married students were dealt with prior to entry to the college.
Contact was made with theological colleges, in England and Wales, which train ordinands for the Anglican ministry.
Information on grant provision in the Church of England was obtained.
Information was sought from the Grants Committee on the grant provision for married students.
Estate agents in the college area were requested to give details of local available properties and their costs.
2.	current situation
2.1.	Student Questionnaire
The number of married students who moved their spouse/family to the Dublin area each year as against the total of married students and total of students was as follows:
Year | Total | Married | Moved to Dublin
1994/95 | 45 | 20 | 2
1995/96 | 44 | 21 | 5
1996/97 | 39 | 23 | 6
1997/98 | 34 | 21 | 6
1998/99 | 34 | 14 | 3
Issues raised in the replies included:
-	pastoral care of families
-	areas of disparity in grants
-	difficulty in getting locally affordable accommodation
-	need for financial protection for the dependants of married theological students
-	children’s schooling
-	spouse’s work commitments
-	change of jurisdiction
-	double relocation (to college and then at ordination)
-	stress and loneliness of separation
The committee appreciated the ready and honest responses received from those who replied.
2.2.	Diocesan Directors of Ordinands
A letter was sent to the Diocesan Directors of Ordinands (DDOs) asking for details of the preparation given to married students, for entry into full time training.  All DDOs replied.
It was reported that married students in general were treated similarly to single students, but they were made aware of the problems they may face.  These included separation from home and financial hardship.
There was no standard procedure used throughout the dioceses.
2.3.	Accommodation for married students at Church of England approved Theological Colleges
Students train at independent colleges approved for ordination training by the Church of England.  Married students normally reside in housing provided by the college.  The sponsoring diocese pays the cost of the housing directly to the college.
2.4.	Church of England grant provision
For details see Appendix B.  The committee recognises the limitations of external comparisons.
2.5.	Church of Ireland grant provision
For details see Appendix C.
2.6.	Local Accommodation availability and costs
Rental costs locally are high.  A two-bedroom apartment is approximately £700 per month and a four-bedroom house is approximately £1,200 per month.
Parishes and other benefactors have in the past allowed students to rent at below market value.
3.	analysis
3.1.	Accommodation for married students
Married students fall into three categories:
i)	Those who live in the Dublin area and remain living at home.
ii)	Those whose spouse (and family) remain at home outside the Dublin area with the student travelling home at weekends.
iii)	Those who live in local Dublin area accommodation (normally rented by the student).
All married students have difficulty in finding accommodation for their spouse and family.  There is no specific provision for married students and family either in Dublin or at home.
3.2.	Pastoral
The pastoral support for families is somewhat ad hoc with some finding excellent support from their home parishes while others have little.
3.3	Grant provision
A number of supplementary grants are available to students from various sources.
3.4.	Life assurance
No provision is made against death of a married candidate in college training.  The committee is not aware of any such case ever occurring but felt that the church would have a moral if not a legal responsibility to provide, particularly if the candidate had left employment where such provision was made.  It was reported to the committee that legal opinion was that any such provision could be construed as a contract of employment.  The committee also noted that upon receipt of grants, students agreed to continue in the Ministry of the Church of Ireland for three years after ordination.
3.5.	Preparation of married students before entering Theological College
Students are informed of the grant provision and made aware of some of the difficulties they face but this varies depending on the diocese.
4.	recommendations
All students are expected to train together at the Theological College.  Adequate provision must be made for them to do that.  The needs of all students are different so some variation in provision should be made.
Free single accommodation is provided for all students.  Clearly the existing provision does not meet the needs of those married students who wish their spouse and family to reside with them whether in Dublin or elsewhere.  The needs of those students wishing to move to Dublin may be met by building, renting or buying local accommodation.  However, in all circumstances, sufficient financial support should be provided to eliminate financial anxiety for students and families with regard to the provision of accommodation.
We recommend and believe that it would be more practicable that such funding should come largely from diocesan sources.  An inter-diocesan pooling system should be considered but administered through each diocese.
The committee is of the opinion that the continuing pastoral responsibility for the ordinand/married student and his/her family must ultimately rest with the bishop of the sponsoring diocese.
Term life assurance should be provided ‘without prejudice’ for all married students.
To help prevent many of the difficulties (real or perceived) which students face, a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MOU) should be provided for each student.  The MOU may be drawn up by the Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) but should be signed by the bishop and the student involved.  It is not possible to draw up a format which would meet the needs of all students and indeed all dioceses.  However, the MOU should cover such items as:
a)	Central Grant Provision and any diocesan provision
b)	Where the student and family will live
c)	Pastoral Support – college chaplain, home parish etc
d)	Life and health insurance needs as appropriate
e)	Any other issues deemed important by the student or the bishop.
An annual review meeting between the student and his/her bishop to discuss progress and needs is seen as a requisite.
5.	conclusion
The committee recognises the complexity of the problems relating to married students and in this report seeks to cover many of them.  We would like to thank all those who assisted by providing information and answering questionnaires.
We have given our recommendations and commend the report to the General Synod.

appendix a
student questionnaire
married students at the church of Ireland Theological College
The Standing Committee has set up a committee to look at issues affecting married students at the Theological College.  The committee at its initial meeting identified some problems including that of accommodation for couples/families.
We would be grateful if you could complete the questionnaire and return it ASAP, adding any relevant comments that you feel would help the committee in identifying issues and finding possible remedies.  All personal information will be treated in confidence.
Name | Year of entry
| No of years in CITC	2/3
Married before arrival/during time at CITC | BEFORE/DURING
Number of Children | at start of course   ____ | end of course   ____
Did you reside in Dublin area prior to entry to CITC? | YES/NO
While you were at CITC did your family continue to live at home? | YES/NO
Did your spouse/family move to accommodation in the Dublin area? | YES/NO
If yes, could you give details of how you found accommodation and its suitability
Was your spouse in employment? | YES/NO
Did this affect your decision on moving to Dublin? | YES/NO
Any other information that you feel would be of value to the committee

appendix b
church of england grant provision 1998/99
Advisory Board of Ministry (ABM) grants
Unearned income of more than £800 per annum can be taken into account in the assessment of grants.  Normally 60% of such income will be taken into account in assessment of the maintenance grant.
Provision
College Expenses, Tuition & Maintenance fees	met 100%
Personal Books, Common Room Subs etc	£1,029 payable in 3 termly instalments
Travel (if more than 20 miles from college)	Rate banded according to distance
Vacation	£284 (short)   £322 (long)
Diocesan Grants
The families of Ordinands in training are supported mainly by the sponsoring Diocese.  The costs are evenly distributed between the dioceses by a system of pooling.  Some provision for housing will be made within the limits set for individual colleges ranging from £4,100 to £7,000.  In addition to this, support is provided according to the following guidelines:
Family Situation	Recommended per annum
Couple	£6,961
Lone Parent	£4,480
Per Child over 11	£1,567
Per Child under 11	£1,031
Deductions
The recommended figure plus housing costs is the overall figure candidates receive.  The following, where applicable, are deducted.
Recommended figure
less	ABM of Local Education Authority maintenance grant
less	State Benefits (including Child Benefit)
less	Earned & unearned Personal Income at the discretion of the diocese
less	Income from Charities above £310
less	75% of Working Partners Income after the first £1,540
The resulting total is the Diocesan Grant actually paid.
Life assurance
All dioceses now participate in the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group’s Life Assurance Scheme for married candidates and lone parents.  The scheme provides cover in the event of death of a married candidate (or lone parent) in college training.

appendix c
Church of Ireland Grant Provision
Personal Grants
Single | IR£1,500 per annum
Married | IR£4,160 per annum
Children | (1^st child) | IR£200 per annum
| (2^nd child) | IR£150 per annum
| (3^rd child) | IR£100 per annum
Living out allowance | IR£1,653 per annum
Placement grants for 2^nd year students for 4 weeks during the summer | IR£400 (4 weeks @ £100)
Accommodation and meals at the college are all paid for the students.  Fees for Trinity College and Theological College and any other fees such as the School of Ecumenics are also paid for the students.
Some dioceses pay a book grant.  Bishops may provide an additional hardship allowance.