Cleric Council of Ambury Faculty
The Cleric Council of Ambury Faculty, often shortened to Council Faculty, is the name and organizational unit of the clerics of Ambury Temple. Students at the Temple often refer to the Council Faculty as the Parsons after the ranks awarded to the faculty (Vernal Parson, Parson, Elder Parson).
Structure
The Parsons or faculty of Ambury Temple is run by the Small Council, a group elected from among the highest ranking faculty, the Elder Parsons. The chief member of the Small Council, the High Parson makes most day-to-day decisions about operation of the school and hospital. Additionally, the High Parson has a measure of autocratic control over larger decisions, such as construction of new buildings, purchasing of items from the nearby Ambury Town, the capital Hyton, or further afield, and the security of the Temple. However, most such large scale decisions are made by the Small Council as a whole. Any decision of the High Parson can be overruled by a 2/3rds majority of the Small Council.
Other faculty ranks include the Parson and the Vernal Parson. Faculty at these ranks do the majority of the teaching in the healer's school and most of the patient care within the hospital. Only the final practicum courses, where students are given semi-autonomy to treat patients, are run by Elder Parsons. Similarly, only the most difficult or bizarre patient cases are given to Elder Parson faculty. In addition, royalty of The Kingdom of Fenlor are always treated by Elder Parson faculty, regardless of their injury or sickness.
Other faculty ranks include the Parson and the Vernal Parson. Faculty at these ranks do the majority of the teaching in the healer's school and most of the patient care within the hospital. Only the final practicum courses, where students are given semi-autonomy to treat patients, are run by Elder Parsons. Similarly, only the most difficult or bizarre patient cases are given to Elder Parson faculty. In addition, royalty of The Kingdom of Fenlor are always treated by Elder Parson faculty, regardless of their injury or sickness.
Assets
Although The Kingdom of Fenlor technically owns the Ambury Temple since annexation in 100 CA, the Parsons run the day to day operations of the hospital, school, and sustenance farming, which supports the Temple. Interference from the crown is minimal. Because of this, one could consider the Cleric Council's assets as including the physical grounds of Ambury Temple, a few acres of adjacent arable land, Soul's Rest, and the numerous relics and healing items that the Temple houses for use in the hospital and as part of their history.
History
Originally, Ambury Temple was founded by a council of fourteen clerics charged by the nations of the Great Alliance and other contributing nations to create a center of learning, healing, and peace that could help citizens of all nations. Each cleric's term of service on the council was determined by their home nations, with terms ranging from a few years to life. Upon completion of a term, a cleric was renewed or replaced by another from their home nation.
After the collapse of the Great Alliance, little oversight (or financial contribution) was provided to the Ambury Temple as the original signatory nations of the Ambury Accord had other troubles. In 51 SA (1751 SR), the existing cleric council decided that they could no longer rely on the old system of externally appointed clerics and developed a system where each council member would hand pick their successor, commonly an apprentice or student. However, infighting within the council led to factions forming within the school and conflict over who would ascend to positions in the council. Finally, five years after annexation of Ambury Town by The Kingdom of Fenlor, a council member was murdered as part of a dispute over the choice of successor, sparking a debate and deliberation by the remaining council members. In response to the murder and growing factionalism within the Temple, the clerics developed the Cleric Council of Ambury Faculty, the Small Council, and the faculty advancement system and ranks. Although that system has had minor modifications since, it is essentially unchanged since 107 CA. Since creation of the "Parson System", the school has become much more harmonious, although small interpersonal conflicts cause the High Parson consternation from time to time, the level of conflict has never again reached the levels of the Somber Age.
After the collapse of the Great Alliance, little oversight (or financial contribution) was provided to the Ambury Temple as the original signatory nations of the Ambury Accord had other troubles. In 51 SA (1751 SR), the existing cleric council decided that they could no longer rely on the old system of externally appointed clerics and developed a system where each council member would hand pick their successor, commonly an apprentice or student. However, infighting within the council led to factions forming within the school and conflict over who would ascend to positions in the council. Finally, five years after annexation of Ambury Town by The Kingdom of Fenlor, a council member was murdered as part of a dispute over the choice of successor, sparking a debate and deliberation by the remaining council members. In response to the murder and growing factionalism within the Temple, the clerics developed the Cleric Council of Ambury Faculty, the Small Council, and the faculty advancement system and ranks. Although that system has had minor modifications since, it is essentially unchanged since 107 CA. Since creation of the "Parson System", the school has become much more harmonious, although small interpersonal conflicts cause the High Parson consternation from time to time, the level of conflict has never again reached the levels of the Somber Age.
Type
Education, Faculty
Alternative Names
Council Faculty, The Parsons
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Location
Notable Members