The Ombuds Blog: Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Launches Ombuds Office

November 09, 2023

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Launches Ombuds Office

Scott C. Williamson has been named the inaugural Ombuds for LPTS, a seminary in Kentucky affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Williamson will serve all members of the 170 year old seminary, including about 130 students. A Charter for the office states that the Ombuds will practice to IOA standards, although there is no confidentiality for sexual misconduct covered by Title IX. The LPTS Ombuds is a part-time position that reports to the Seminary President.

Williamson takes on the Ombuds duties and continues as a Professor of Theological Ethics. He has been a member of the faculty since 1997 and also served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in 2016-17. He graduated from Bates College and earned his MDiv and PhD from Yale University. (LPTS News; Charter; LinkedIn.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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November 09, 2023

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Launches Ombuds Office

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