MULTI-FAITH, MULTI-TRADITION, MULTI-CULTURAL CHAPLAINCY

MULTI-FAITH, MULTI-TRADITION, MULTI-CULTURAL CHAPLAINCY

Chaplaincy as a dynamic and pragmatic ministry of presence has gotten so expanded and by her usual progressional development has attained the multi-faith status in our world. Our world is full of people in different communities and societies with people of divergence beliefs and viewpoints, living and interacting together requires relationship with one another not minding their religious affiliations. The pluralistic settings and societies have found themselves today in the world is calling for a services that is beyond sectors, divisions and discrimination.

NB: Pastoral care from which all caregiving and other modalities such as, chaplaincy, counseling, therapy, and psychotherapy evolved has progressed and moved unto multi-faith and multi-tradition status providing spiritual services, physical services, emotional services and mental health services to humanity whether or not they are of different faiths, as all people regardless of faith and beliefs are exposed to the same problems, situations and concern, needing professional intervention, care and therapy.

Multi-faith chaplaincy has become essential and necessary in the following sector and aspect of human endeavor:-

1.    Military – where serving officers are presently from more than Roman Catholic dogma, the Islamic dogma, the Protestant dogma. Our world is seeking chaplains who have no aprons of religion tied round their neck ready to render services to those who have their religions, faiths as well those who have none.

2.    Correctional Institutions – where the inmates as well as the serving officers are of divers faiths.

3.    Hospital Setting – where patients and relations are of different faiths.

4.    Public Institutions – where the generality of the people are of different faiths.

The beauty of segregational chaplaincy, based on dogma has faded away and multi-faith chaplaincy practice and service delivery has taking over it.

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

DMin. Chaplaincy Major, CPC, CCE, CBC.

Professor of Anthropology.