Christian leaders: Concern about threats to University Departments

Dear Vice-Chancellor

We write to you as the General Secretaries of three of Wales' main denomiations to express our disappointment at recently reading in the press about the discussions currently taking place within the University regarding the possibility of closing five Departments.

Although our interest lies mainly in the Theology and Religious Studies Department, our concern also extends to the other Departments because of the effect their dissolution could have on the University's Welsh-medium teaching. You will doutbless remember that it was through energetic campaigning that this provision was secured in the first place, and any discussion of developments that could undermine is of the utmost concern to the three of us. We feel that the University, as a Welsh institutions, give consideration to the main elements of the history and life of our nation, and the Welsh language is certainly one of those elements. Our feeling is that if we cannot rely on the University to protect it, then the future appears very uncertain. We know that financial factors are involved in the current discussions regarding the closures, but we believe that there is a broader moral responsibility which must also be taken into account.

The three of us are in a good position to measure the contribution made by the School of Theology and Religious Studies to the life of Wales, as we received part of our education there. The department has a most excellent scholarly tradition and one of its recent achievements was the key role it played in providing a new translation of the Bible in Welsh. Over the years, the department has shown an admirable ability to adapt to the needs of different eras and at this time, when a clear understanding is needed of traditional Welsh Christianity as well as other minority religions, it appears incredible to us that Bangor University should even consider closing the department.

Furthermore, since the Department's early days, individual members of staff have made worthy and excellent contributions to academia in Wales, Britain, Europe and beyond, by publishing works which have drawn attention to the history, culture and contribution of Wales in these various contexts. And this tradition lives on: even today, the staff employed are hardworking and are recognised as leaders in their various fields by people in all sorts of circles, be they academic or cultural.

Because of all this, we urge you as Vice-Chancellor and on the Bangor University Council, to dismiss this plan to close the Departments under threat, and in particular, the Theology and Religious Studies Department. We acknowledge that changes may be necessary within the Department, but to us, closing it seems like such a final step that we cannot fail to believe that a day will come when the University regrets its decision.

Although we write to you as individuals, we believe that our opinion represents that of a great many people within and without the churches of Wales, and because of this, we urge you to disregard this plan.

Yours faithfully,

Revd Ifan Roberts,
General Secretary, Presbyterian Church of Wales

Revd Peter Thomas,
General Secretary, Baptists' Union of Wales

Revd Dr Geraint Tudur,
General Secretary, Union of Welsh Independents