A question of tolerance and diversity

Professor Clines is right on two counts out of three which is better than I do most weeks.

1. There is certainly no gainsaying the high quality of the church colleges.

2. Some of them may need to review their job descriptions if they aspire to university status.

3. But there is nothing contradictory about a university supporting a particular faith provided it does so with the assurance which the editor unfortunately removed from my article, "There is no whiff of Christian coercion. We are offering additional opportunities -- extending the academic freedom of members not infringing it."

Titles may be important. We work closely with a fine university in Tokyo, founded by Japanese and Americans as an act of atonement for the atomic bombs and what went before them. Like our colleges it is open to members of all faiths or none. It calls itself unequivocally the International Christian University. Some of us may bear that in mind when choosing our university names.

GORDON MCGREGOR

Chair of The Council of Church & Associated Colleges

Principal

University College of Ripon and York St. John