THEOLOGY DEGREES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 10

THEOLOGY DEGREES

FROM N.Z. UNIVERSITY

"WITHOUT SECTARIAN BIAS"

PROPOSAL ADOPTED

The Senate of the New Zealand University yesterday, on the motion of Sir Thomas Sidey, adopted a resolution empowering the- University

to confer degrees in theology,

Following the adoption of the above resolution, a committee was authorised to confer with representatives of the churches interested and representatives of the colleges, and advise the Senate and the Academic Board as to the legislative and academic requirements necessary to give effect to the resolution. :In moving the adoption of the report, Sir Thomas Sidey said his first proposition was that the burden of proof in this matter rested upon those who would deny to tho University the po^ver to confer degrees of theology. He desired, first, to quote from a recent address of Professor Elder, of the University of Otago, as to the meaning of the word "university." Professor Elder said: "The ancient title given to a university was that of a studium generate or school of universal learning; and this, too, answers briefly the question, What is a university?" Cardinal Newman in his "University Sketches" took | this same view when he described a university as "a school of knowledge of every kind." In further support of this view, Sir Thomas quoted from an addross delivered last November by Sir Alfred Hppkinson, a former Vice-Chan-cellor of the University of Manchester. Speaking at the 25th« anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Theology, he urged that "one could not put outside the range of the studies the study of-human action in the field that had done most to sway the earnest feelings of! men for good or for ill, and had been the subject of the deepest thought of • the greatest intellects throughout history. To have excluded theology would have been a deadly mistake. If that was true twenty-five years ago, it was ten times more true to-day having regard to the complete revolution in the modem scientific outlook since 1904. The old dogmatic science had completely broken down, and scientific thought was entering into a new region. Both science and theology must be affected by this change so important for the human outlook of the world." The only other quotation he would make in that connection was from the report of the Royal Commission on University . Education in New Zealand in 1925. In recommending- that tho University should be empowered to grant theology degrees, the Commission said: "No branch of study which is based on the pursuit of knowledge by free and unfettered inquiry can . be legitimately refused entrance into the university domain." NOT TO TEACH THEOLOGY. The next point he proposed to make, said Sir Thomas Sidey," was that it was not intended that the University should teach theological subjects. It was intended that a board of theological studies should be constituted, representative of the various denominations. That board would recommend to tho Academic Board courses of study for theological degrees, and send to the Academic Board the nominations of persons recommended as examiners in these subjects. It was not anticipated that there would be any appreciable additional expense to the University. The fees of the examiners should, after a. time, be met from the fees of the candidates for the examinations. As the examinations would be held at the same time as other degree examinations there would be little expense to the University beyond what was involved in_ the exercise by it of its.normal functions, except possibly the travelling expenses of members of the proposed board. It was considered, however, that each able to pay the expenses of its own denomination concerned would bo agreerepresentatives. COMPARATIVE RELIGION. There wero subjects such as comparative religion that .were as neutral as any other subjects taught in tl\o University. It was not intended that the examinations should 'be a test of belief but only of knowledge. There was a strong demand for the institution of such degrees. It might interest the Senate to be informed of the extent to which the clergy of the different denominations held degrees. There wjere in the Anglican Church'9s M.A.'a and 49 8.A.5,; being 144 graduates in Arts. There wpre also some *96 of the Anglican clergy who held the diploma of L.Th. A number of these would no doubt take a degree in Divinity, as part of their course were the opportunity open to them. In the Presbyterian Church there were 67 ministers who held the M.A. degree and 35 who held the B.A. degree, a total of over 100 graduates in Arts, besides those who held other, including Divinity degrees. ANXIOUS TO TAKE DEGREES. Many of tho students were anxious to take degrees in theology, but there was a very limited number of colleges that permitted degrees being taken by external students; and our students might have to leave the country in OTder -. to get degrees denied to them in New Zealand. It had been suggested that the institution of such degrees would give- rise to denominational differences. The very reverse had been the experience of those universities which had instituted degrees in theology. It had, on the contrary, -tended to bring the representatives of the denominations together, and create .a feeling of harmony. In support of that statement, Sir1 Thomas Sidey quoted from the University Commission's report and from . other sources. i Instead of the University suffering in prestige by adopting the course suggested, it would have the opposite effect. The students who qualified ivould be the cream of the theological students of the country. The course that was suggested - was one which would be open only to graduates, which, meant that : students would have at, least three years' study before entering upon their theological course. By conferring such honours the' Universityl would be enhancing its fame. Mr. Yon Haast said that in past years he had always opposed the proposal, but on the present occasion he would support it. If it meant the spending of money in the teaching of the tenets of any religion he would be tho first to object to it. He moved, as an amendment, "That the committee bo' continued and be'authorised to c'out vene a meeting of tho teachers of the subjects required for theological degrees, and of representation of tho (ihurches in order to formulate for submission' to the Senate a scheme for (a) empowering the University to confer degrees in theology, and (b) for the teaching of theology and the examination by the University in that subject." 'i ■ NO DUPLICATION OF SUBJECTS. Professor Hunter said that before the Senate adopted a report of the character proposed it should .be clearly understood. how tho change would operate. It seemed to him that it would be quite impossible at present to

carry it out, especially in view of tho rules applying to tho university colleges. Sir A. Ngata suggested that it might bo well to refer the matter to a special committee for consideration . In reply to Professor Hunter, Sir Thomas Sidey pointed out that subjects already included in tho course for other ! degrees would not bo included in'the coui-so for degrees in theology. Mr. Yon Haast 's amendment was defeated by 10 votes to 6. | Clause" 1 of the report, namely, "That the University be empowered to confer I degrees in theology," was adopted. ! It was agreed, on the motion of Professor Hunter, "That the Committee be continued and authorised to convene a meeting of representatives of the churches interested in theological education and such representatives of the teaching staffs of the colleges as the Executive Committee, after consultation with the executive of the Academic Board may decide, in order to advise the Senate and :the Academic Board as to the legislative and academic requirements necessary to give effect to the foregoing recommendation." t^____,^____