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Appendix E-15: Knox College and Salmond Hall – Statements on Relationships Between the Council and the Theological Hall Committee (Now School of Ministry)
(As amended 2002)
1) Statement Adopted by Assembly, 1945, and the Synod of Otago and Southland, 1946
In view of the fact that the Synod of Otago and Southland has endorsed the proposal that a Theological Hall building be erected as a memorial of the Centenary of the founding of the Presbyterian Church within its bounds, it seems desirable that certain questions relating to the disposal of funds and to the responsibility for the erection, the maintenance, and the control of such building be clarified. To this end the following statement has been prepared:
At the meeting of the General Assembly of 1923, on the presentation of a report by a special committee set up to consider the constitution of Knox College, the present constitution, as presented below, was adopted:
NOTE: As the Constitution as printed in 1945 has been amended on subsequent occasions this is not printed as part of this statement, but as section (3) of this Appendix.
Since the foundation of the College, in addition to providing and maintaining lecture rooms and library accommodation for the use of the Theological Hall, and, since 1912, a chapel, board and residence has been provided for such theological students as desired to live in the College, and residence in College has been regarded as an important part of their training. The accommodation for the Theological Hall has long been recognised as being inadequate for its purpose and the College Council has had in view the extension of the College buildings in order to provide, among other amenities, adequate accommodation for the Theological Hall and the College Library. In 1929, sketch plans were drawn up by the architect of the College, which include a self-contained block for the accommodation of the Theological Hall and the Theological Hall Library. The College Council has received bequests for the purpose of completing the College buildings, but lack of sufficient money has hitherto prevented the Council from proceeding with its plans.
It would appear, therefore that the responsibility for erecting and maintaining an adequate building for the Theological Hall rests primarily upon the Knox College Council, and this responsibility the College Council has always recognised. It is obvious, however, that in proceeding with its plans the College Council must work in the closest possible co-operation and harmony with the Education for Ministry Committee and Senatus, with the Synod of Otago and Southland, and with the General Assembly. In order to secure this end the following policy is outlined:
1) All money raised in connection with the Centenary Memorial Appeal shall, in the first instance, be paid to the Otago Foundation Trust Board to be used by them as the Synod may from time to time direct.
2) The Otago Foundation Trust Board shall pay to the Knox College Council such sums as the Synod may determine to be used for the erection of the Theological Hall building in connection with Knox College, provided that the building be erected to the satisfaction of the Education for Ministry Committee, acting on behalf of the Synod. That part of the Memorial Fund apportioned by the Synod as a Scholarship Endowment Fund in connection with the Theological Hall shall, when so directed by the Synod, be paid by the Otago Foundation Trust Board to the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees, to be invested and the income used for such scholarship purposes as may be determined by the Education for Ministry Committee of the Synod.
3) In order to secure cooperation, the Education for Ministry Committee and the Senatus shall be associated with the Knox College Council in the finalising of the plans and the supervision of the erection of the building.
4) The Committee and the Senatus shall at all times have the use of the whole or part of the Theological Hall portion of the College for the purposes of the Theological Hall, but, subject to this condition, the buildings shall be controlled by the Knox College Council, which shall be responsible for their maintenance.
5) The facilities of the College as a whole shall continue to be available to the staff and students of the Theological Hall, both resident and non-resident.
NOTE: Since 1968 the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Property has been known as the Otago Foundation Trust Board.
2) Additional Statement of Relationships Adopted by the General Assembly, 1964, Relating to the Women’s Hall of Residence
i) The Knox College Council shall extend its buildings and responsibilities by the erection on the present property of a hall of residence for women students. This hall shall be open to women students of all faculties and of all denominations, and shall be the recognised place of residence for women students in training for the Presbyterian ministry, or other full-time church service involving theological study.
ii) There is nothing in the present constitution of Knox College as amended by the General Assembly in 1923, or in the Statement of Relationships adopted in 1945, which prevents the establishment of this hall of residence, but some verbal changes and clarifying clauses would be necessary. As the term Knox College would be retained for the present residential block, specific reference would need to be made in the constitution to the new hall, and the relationship of the Master to the new hall and its Master would need to be clarified. (see also Clause 7)
iii) It is clear that in incorporating the present Deaconess College into the new hall, the entity of Deaconess College as such, and the office of Principal of Deaconess College will disappear. Those women students, who under the present conditions live in Deaconess College, would have the same place in this hall as theological students now have in Knox College, and would not constitute a smaller community on their own.
iv) The new women’s hall shall be administered as a self-contained extension of the present institution. The Master, as the executive officer of the Council, shall include the new hall in his total responsibilities subject to the following proviso: ‘While the Master shall have the oversight of the maintenance of the building and grounds of the new hall, the Master shall have complete control of all its internal affairs’.
v) The Master of the new hall shall be appointed by the Knox College Council, on consultation with the Education for Ministry Committee. She shall be responsible for all the internal affairs of the Hall and shall report to the Council through a sub-committee of the Council.
vi) It is envisaged that the hall should be designed for not less than 125 students with provision for extension to 150. The college buildings should make provision for the residence of the Master, Sub-Master, at least two Fellows or senior residents such as university or Theological Hall staff, as well as domestic staff. The Hall should have a chapel, dining hall, common rooms, at least one tutorial-lecture room-cum-library.
vii) The teaching programme of the present Deaconess College should be merged completely with that of the Theological Hall and be carried out in the theological building. This means that though it may be necessary to retain the term ‘Theological Hall’, it will have a wider connotation than hitherto. It is however, parallel to and a logical consequence of the merging of the Education for Ministry Committee and Deaconess College Committee to form the Education for Ministry Committee. This merger will mean that the Theological Hall staff which may well need to include a woman member, will be required to plan courses in each department to suit the needs of the various students. The students of the new Hall will have the same access to the library, Cameron Hall, and other facilities of the theological building as students of Knox College.
NOTE: At the 1993 Assembly, the Education for Ministry Committee was renamed the Theological Hall Committee. Since then the Theological Hall has become the School of Ministry. In line with the 1998 General Assembly decisions, the policy functions of the School of Ministry Committee are now the responsibility of the Equipping the Leadership Policy Group. The operational tasks of the Theological Hall Committee are attended to by the Principal of the School of Ministry.
3) The Council of Knox College and Salmond Hall (Inc.): Constitution
(Approved by General Assembly, 1923; Clause 10 added by Assembly, 1966; Clause 6 amended by addition of ‘and the Master of Salmond Hall’ by Assembly, 1969; the name amended by Assembly, 1977).
1) This College is founded for the glory of God, the promotion of His Kingdom and the advancement of sound learning.
2) It shall be the theological college of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, and shall provide chambers where students may reside under Christian influence and discipline.
3) So far as possible, it shall provide efficient tutorial assistance for students in their preparation for their university lectures and examinations.
4) The College shall not be restricted to students for the ministry or to members of the Presbyterian Church, but shall be open to students of all faculties and of all denominations.
5) The Moderator of the General Assembly for the time being shall be the Visitor of the College.
6) The College Council shall consist of the Master of the College, the Master of Salmond Hall, the Principal of the School of Ministry, and of 15 members, who shall be elected as follows: 12 by the General Assembly of whom at least four shall be ex-students who have resided either in Knox College or Salmond Hall as members of either Knox College or Salmond Hall, and three by the Council of Knox College and Salmond Hall. Councillors shall hold office for four years, and retiring councillors shall be eligible for re-election.
7) The Master of the College shall be elected by the Assembly. He shall have the sole management of the internal affairs of the college, subject to the control of the Council.
8) The Council shall have full power to appoint and remove all officers of the College, other than those appointed by the Assembly, and shall from time to time determine the fees to be charged for residence and tuition, it being always understood that the charges made are to be kept as moderate as possible, and any profit accruing to be used for the further development of the College.
9) The Council shall have full power to make rules touching the mode of conducting their own proceedings and the discipline and management of the College.
10) The Council shall undertake responsibility for the management and control of Salmond Hall within the Knox College grounds in terms of the Statement on Relationships adopted by the General Assembly of 1964.