PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAINCY PRACTICE MUST FOLLOW KNOWN PROFESSIONAL CULTURE

PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAINCY PRACTICE MUST FOLLOW KNOWN PROFESSIONAL CULTURE

Chaplaincy may be practiced publicly, as well as in the private or corporate settings either by individual professionals or by a group of professionals, professionally. Even professional chaplaincy is done by individuals; the professional chaplains are usually assisted by others, who may be trainees, assistant chaplains or lay chaplains in attending to a particular client(s).

However, the professional chaplains take responsibility for the care and service provided for such client or clients. All documents made on such client(s) must be in the custody of the professional chaplain, attested to with his or her signature. Any report on the client(s) provided, care given or services deliver to the client(s) must be signed by the professional chaplain.

When the chaplaincy practice and service delivery is done by a group of practicing chaplains as a team; a team of practicing professional chaplains or interdisciplinary team, as sometimes found in collegial collaboration; there must still be a team leader amongst them who is usually held responsible for the care, attention, concern and service provided and the method of the provision.

Just like in legal representation in courts of competent jurisdiction; there may be a team of counsels representing an interest in any important case that is of national importance or societal importance from two to hundred counsels appearing in court for the particular case of interest.

However, as many counsels there may be on the representation, there is always a lead counsel who earns the official recognition of the court, and other team members usually submit to the leadership of the lead counsel, who is usually the team leader.

Also in accounting firm, there may be a number of accountants working in the firm. The particular accounting assignment or work given to the firm of accountants may be done by many or all the accountants, trainee accountants and the accounting clerks in the accounting firm as a team.

However, the final reports of such accounting work is usually signed and presented by the team leader, called lead accountant who takes responsibility for the works done by the team members.

Just in like manner, in professional chaplaincy practice involving other colleagues, chaplains or other professionals from disciplines related to chaplaincy must be led by a team leader called and styled as Chief Consultant Chaplain, who takes responsibility for the work done by the team and sign any report made.  Even when signed by another team member, it must be signed on his or her behalf.

Chap. Prof. Mike-David D. JP, AP, CPC, CCE, CBC.