A benefactor making a significant donation to Otago's chaplaincy studies programme has been officially recognised by the University.
The Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust has committed to donate $1 million over the next three years to the Lecturer in Chaplaincy Studies endowment fund at the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
In recognition of the substantial financial contribution and to honour the legacy of Douglas Goodfellow and the Goodfellow family's longstanding support for chaplaincy, the lecturer position has been named the Douglas Goodfellow Lecturer in Chaplaincy Studies.
The Goodfellow family's history of philanthropy is extensive, spanning several generations.
They have previously donated money to fund university and hospital chapels in the North Island.
Development and Alumni Director Shelagh Murray says the University is deeply grateful to the Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust for their incredible generosity and ongoing commitment to supporting chaplaincy and the broader fields of health and education.
"This remarkable donation not only honours the legacy of Douglas Goodfellow and his family's tradition of philanthropy but also ensures that our chaplaincy studies programme can thrive and make a lasting impact on communities across New Zealand.
"The Goodfellow family's dedication to serving others through their giving is truly inspiring, and we are honoured to have their support."
In 1994, prominent businessman and philanthropist Douglas Goodfellow transferred his wealth to family trusts to continue his family's mission of "a life of service to others".
Trust spokesman Paul Keeling says the Trustees understand the importance of Otago's chaplaincy studies programme.
"We understand the benefits its graduates will bring to the practice of chaplaincy in New Zealand, and its relevance to the family's philanthropy."
With the growing public awareness of mental health, suicide rates, stress and bullying in schools and in the workplace, chaplains play an important role in the provision of pastoral and spiritual care across many sectors of society, including education, healthcare, aged care, law enforcement, emergency services, corrections, media, and sport.
In 2021, the University appointed its first chaplaincy lecturer, Dr Graham Redding, for a five-year term to further develop New Zealand's first tertiary-level chaplaincy studies programme.
This appointment was made possible through the generosity of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland and the Longview Trust.
Demand for the programme is strong, reflecting a need for a robust professional qualification that is recognised across the chaplaincy sector.
Head of the Theology Programme, Professor Paul Trebilco, says that this donation greatly increases the endowment fund for the chaplaincy studies programme, and goes a long way to ensuring the long-term financial viability of the programme.
"We are enormously grateful for the support of the Douglas Goodfellow Charitable Trust," he says.
"Their generous donation is indicative of their confidence in the programme and of their commitment to the chaplaincy sector."
Through its distance learning programme, Otago is the only university in Aotearoa New Zealand offering advanced professional programmes in chaplaincy.
The fundraising campaign to fully endow the Douglas Goodfellow Lecturer in Chaplaincy Studies is ongoing, and once the endowment is reached, the position will be funded in perpetuity.
