Keeping the faith in university

Dr Stephen Fagbemi Sunderland University's Anglican Chaplain

The Chaplaincy team are ready for anyone at any time

Dr Stephen Fagbemi is the Anglican Chaplain and co-ordinator of Chaplaincy Services at the University of Sunderland.

With Sunderland being a multicultural city, the role of chaplain has many differing demands.

He has devoted the past four years answering these demands in a spiritual and pastoral way.

He leads a team of chaplains and provides religious and social support for everyone in the university.

By circulating throughout the university, I engage in all sorts of discussion and, through this, am able to offer support and encouragement whilst creating friendships.

I am also privileged to listen to individual concerns and fears as well as joys and issues they would like to share whilst I offer prayers or any other appropriate support.

Challenging role

The independent role of the chaplaincy is vital so we are able to challenge authority - if we notice any issue of concern.

We offer support to people who may have any particular issue with the university.

This is a very broad role, as on many occasions, I engage in matters that have no direct bearing with religion or faith.

We are primarily concerned about people's well-being Dr Stephen Fagbemi

I receive occasional phone calls in times of desperation - when someone is in absolute need of some intervention, advice or help and they consider the Chaplaincy to be the only point of call - when they simply want non-prejudicial support.

My role as an independent listener helps me empathise and offer the necessary support in such times.

I am involved in diversity and ethical matters within the university, encouraging involvement in charity and support for disparate groups.

We work within Sunderland on interfaith issues and matters relevant to helping the city's growth as a liveable and multicultural place.

We organise Christmas hospitality for international students to enjoy Christmas dinner with families in the city on Christmas day, thereby facilitating friendships between the local people and university students.

A priest first

Getting out into the countryside is being at one with God's nature

I currently chair the Sunderland Interfaith Forum which is also aimed at bringing people of different faiths together in the city - not only so that they might understand each other but also to allow them to make constructive contributions to the Sunderland's development strategy.

This is a challenging but worthy cause.

In all these, my role as Anglican Chaplain and Chaplain to the Extra Parochial Place of Sunderland Minster is a reminder that I am first and foremost a priest.

One of the most obvious ways of demonstrating this is through my preaching and teaching ministry, which I carry out largely at the Minster, but also at the chaplaincy during our Sunday fellowship and through my support to Christian students.

Our chaplaincy has an holistic approach for staff and students alike and is primarily concerned with their wellbeing.

We encourage staff members to practise their faith in the work place by providing the enabling environment for that to happen.

The same goes for students, whose entire lives focus on the university during the period of their studies.

Social activities

We not only concentrate on prayer and worship or Bible teaching, but also engage in many social activities, trips and current affairs, aimed at supporting individual growth and spiritual journey.

There is much of Durham Cathedral to discover on a trip out

We hold weekly meetings for UK and international students enabling them to interact with one another through activities, discussions and Christian fellowship.

Our group events have a social rather than spiritual or religious flavour and enable interaction and relationship with those of other faiths and those with no faith-affiliation at all.

I also support other religious societies and, through the associate chaplains and faith advisers, we ensure that the different religious groups are adequately supported.