Speakers' Department

In 1914 the Central Council appointed a sub-committee to select official Speakers. Following recommendations made by the sub-committee, the Central Council appointed a speakers' committee with responsibility for organising and training both central and diocesan speakers. In 1926 the Committee became a Departmental Committee. While always working closely with the Religious Education Department from 1953 to 1956 the two departments were amalgamated. Thereafter the Speaker's Department continued to exist until 1974 when its work was taken over by the Education Department. On selection, in 1915, Speakers had to sign their adherence to the principles of the Church of England, or of a church in communion therewith, and state their position on a number of topics of concern at the time. Speakers were asked to avoid controversial issues outside the scope of the MU's three objects. By the late 1950s the declaration had been altered to require Speakers to be communicant members of the Church of England, to study its doctrine, and where the Speaker is in disagreement with the position of the MU, to refrain from addressing groups on the subject.

For the records of the Education Department, see MU/EDUC