INTELLECTUAL CHAPLAINCY PRACTICE AND SERVICE DELIVERY

INTELLECTUAL CHAPLAINCY PRACTICE AND SERVICE DELIVERY

We are presently in a time and period of high technological advancement in our world, where we are expected to render services that will improve the lives of humanity.

In this era of technological advancements, problems which could be handled simply in the past, have become complicated, sophisticated dynamic and continue to defy simple solutions.

Our methods of approach of handling problems and proffering the needed solutions to such problems must also experience a paradigm shift.

Intellectual Chaplaincy practice and service delivery is what is needed in contemporary times to make life meaningful and fulfilling for humanity who is constantly confronted with diverse problems inflicting pains and sorrows of unmeasurable dimensions upon the people of our world.

As problems have assumed this status in our age, the service delivery being expected from the hands of practicing professional Chaplains is a pragmatic one. The kind of Chaplaincy practice and service delivery needed in this age is “Intellectual Chaplaincy Practice and Service Delivery.”

Intellectual Chaplaincy Practice and Service Delivery are demanding from all practicing Chaplains, most especially professionals the following:

1.   High degree of professionalism. This enable professional Chaplains handle cases presented to them with uttermost care (compassionate care) with professional touch.

2.   High degrees of education. This enable practicing Chaplains go about the discharge of their duties in the most scientific way. Educated illiterate are capable of many ship-wrecks in professional Chaplaincy practice and service delivery for their lack of understanding.

3.   High degree of forensic analysis and investigation. This gives an added advantage to those who have been adequately trained to make right professional diagnosis and proffer the needed therapeutic solutions as a result of the forensic investigation and analysis of knotty problems.

4.   High degree of dynamism. Problems of humanity have become dynamic in nature and scope; those who are called to handle such problems – giving succor and comfort to the victims of situations undergoing one kind of suffering or another - cannot but tackle such problems with greater dynamism. Professional Chaplains who desire to be relevant in this age must endeavour to be dynamic in practice.

5.   High degree of pro-activeness. Premium is being placed upon prevention rather than remedial treatment. Problems can also be prevented before occurring by those who are highly trained and are pro-active. Professional Chaplains seeking relevance in this age must therefore endeavour to be pro-active in Chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

6.   High degree of professional skills. Only skilled manpower in this age is able to do exploit, reducing or attempting to eliminate human sufferings. Unskilled manpower is capable of worsening the situations of mankind, making it difficult for man to experience the needed deliverance.

7.   High degree of morality. Professional Chaplains who are the epitomes of morality amongst the people are expected to shun all forms of immorality in professional practice, showcasing to the general public the possibility of upholding moral standards in a polluted and corrupt world like ours.

8.   High degree of compassionate concern, care and love. These calls for unparalleled concern and identification with the people, the practicing professional Chaplains are called to serve. They are expected to offer the needed services without condemnation and judgement.

9.   High degree of proficiency. This particular demand puts this task on the practicing Chaplains to put into use the knowledge and skills they have acquired in training, in the most efficient and effective ways that is capable of transforming the lives of the people positively.

10.                High degree of consultation. Collegial consultations as well as consultations with other professionals relevant to Chaplaincy practice and service have become of a necessity as problems are better tackled from all angles and sides for sustainable solutions.

In conclusion therefore, I wish to advocate that all Chaplains especially practicing professional Chaplains embrace intellectual Chaplaincy practice and service delivery with the views of enhancing the needed recognition by the general public and relevance in contemporary Chaplaincy practice.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, BSC, MBA, PHD, D.D, DED, THD.

DMin. Chaplaincy Major, CPC, CCE, CBC.

Professor of Anthropology.