The Chaplaincy's Inspiring Service event

On Friday 23rd November, Pembroke College hosted a panel discussion, offering personal & professional reflections with students and the public on the subject of Inspiring Service. The event aimed to encourage thought and discussion about the progression of students into a life characterized by authentic vocation, rather than feeling obliged to move into more financially lucrative areas in order to service student debt.

The panel speakers included the Rt Revd & Rt Hon Lord Rowan Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Master of Magdalene College Cambridge), the Revd Prof Frances Young (formerly Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology, and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Birmingham University, and a senior Methodist minister), Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (one of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and formerly President of BYU and Chairman of US University Heads), and Lord David Alton (Roman Catholic independent cross-bench Life Peer in the House of Lords).

The panel, with interaction from the audience, explored how one can translate faith into Christian service by reflecting upon how faith had inspired and enabled the panellists in their particular careers and vocations.  All have combined personal fulfilment with service in public life, the academy, politics and the Churches.

Reverend Dr Andrew Teal commented on the event’s significance: Speakers reflected candidly and profoundly on various experiences, and discussions with some of their institutions who offer challenging and interesting pathways for development have already begun. The public impact of this is significant, and it was an honour for the college to host a panel of such calibre.

The event took place in The Pichette Auditorium, Pembroke College, Oxford.