The University Church now has a new Chaplain, the Reverend Barbara Moss, who is working hard to forge links with staff in University Departments.

The University Church now has a new Chaplain, the Reverend Barbara Moss, who is working hard to forge links with staff in University Departments.

Barbara Moss comes to the University from London, where she served as a curate. In Cambridge, her focus is on helping people explore the relationship between work and faith and offering pastoral support to those members of University staff who are not connected with Colleges.

"This chaplaincy is probably unique in the UK, if not in the world, in its focus on University staff, academic-related, research and support staff of all kinds," she said.

"I am trying to build up links with as many departments as possible. Some have been very welcoming, giving me a guided tour or inviting me to meet staff over coffee.

"Conducting a Memorial Service at Great St Mary's put me in touch with one of the medical research departments and a number of staff have expressed an interest in a carol service in the week before Christmas."

On Saturday 11 November, Barbara will be chairing a conference at Cambridge called 'Scapegoats in the 21st Century'. "Since we decided on the title, I have found more and more people making links with global, national, local, or even University politics," she said.

The conference takes place over a whole day and will be exploring the insights of Rene Girard, and our own experience of scapegoats . Its speakers will include Desiree Howells, a black, feminist theologian and trustee of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice, Fr Michael Kirwan, a Lecturer at Heythrop College and the Revd Robert Wiggs, formerly Team Rector of Grays in Essex.

The conference will take place in St Michael's Hall, in Trinity Street on Saturday 11 November from 10am to 4pm.

A date has also been set for a Christmas Carol Service for University staff. This will take place in Great St Mary's Church on 20 December 2000 at 3pm.

The church enjoys a long history of links with the University and six University sermons each year are preached there. The next University Preacher will be the Rt Revd David Hope, Archbishop of York, on Sunday 4 March 2001.

Further information:
Revd Moss can be contacted by phone on (7)41719, or by e-mail at bpm23@cam.ac.uk


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