Road Map to Professionalizing Chaplaincy in Nigeria

Road Map to Professionalizing Chaplaincy in Nigeria

Of recent, there has been an increase call from people who have the interest of chaplaincy profession in mind for chaplaincy to be professionalize. Although this call is in the right direction, many of the people calling for chaplaincy to be professionalized know little or nothing about what may be involved as we seek to professionalize chaplaincy in Nigeria.

We of the PRODAM-J Chaplaincy Concept, have the right concept of chaplaincy; have the right chaplaincy education, know chaplaincy very well, practice chaplaincy better than any other in this country.

In this regards, we are delighted to take responsibility for being the pace-setter in professionalizing chaplaincy in Nigeria.

What exactly do we mean by professionalizing chaplaincy? Professionalize means:

1.    Proceeding with something in a professional way.

2.    The status, method, character or standards expected of a professional or a professional organization such as profitability, discretion, evenhandedness, and fair play.

3.     The use of professionals rather than armatures.

With the understanding we have from the various definitions of professionalize, we wish to state very clearly without any ambiguity that professionalizing chaplaincy in Nigeria simply means:

1.    Conducting the affairs of chaplaincy in Nigeria, according to the professional ways or standards acceptable world over.

2.    Making use of professionals in practicing chaplaincy instead of employing amateurs, quacks, para-professionals or non-professionals.

3.    Making use of standardized procedures in the practice and chaplaincy service delivery in Nigeria.

4.    Employing professionals’ assessment rating method for professionals practicing chaplaincy in Nigeria.

5.     Embracing and compelling all practicing chaplains to uphold standard codes of practice, code of ethics as well as etiquettes in their practices.

What is a Road Map: A road map provides one who is undertaking a journey the opportunity to know the direction of his or her destination, stop overs and final terminus before the commencement of the journey. It also provides the type of roads or rails available for one to take. The terrain and the landscape is also indicated. There are sure ways to be taken in professionalizing chaplaincy in Nigeria and this write up provides the road map for such.

1.    Using professionals in carrying out chaplaincy practice and service delivery. First and foremost, professionals who will carry out chaplaincy practice, activities and services must be groomed and equipped and they must be employed in carrying out professional chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

2.    The non-professionals, para-professionals and the amateurs must be retained under the close watch of professional chaplains, to enable them qualify to be allowed to carry out professional chaplaincy practice.

3.    Embracing standard professional chaplaincy practice. All practicing professionals must be made to embrace world standard way of practice in the discharge of their professional duties to the general public.

4.    Embracing standard ethics of chaplaincy profession. It must be made mandatory for all practicing chaplains to embrace standard ethics of chaplaincy profession for the benefit of both the chaplains and the people who are their clients, as they carry out their professional practice.

5.    Embracing standard etiquettes. For chaplains, standard etiquettes must be made mandatory for practicing chaplains in practice to ensure good professional conducts amongst professionals as they relate with their numerous clients, colleagues and people from other professional background relevant to chaplaincy profession.

6.    Embracing standard chaplaincy education. Education is an important tool in the growing, nurturing and equipping of professional chaplains. Standard chaplaincy education capable of producing employable chaplains must be put in place; as mediocrity can only produce people of low self-worth who will never be able to compete for placements in the labour market.

For professional chaplains to enjoy equal opportunities for employment in the labour market which has become highly competitive, they have to be as highly educated as their counterparts from other disciplines and professions with professional skills as an added advantage.

Professionalizing chaplaincy requires hard work, professional skills, high quality education, competence and not lip service.

Beloved, you can start the journey today and even right now as there are reputable chaplains now in Nigeria, who are prepared to keep you under their watchful eyes professionally as you strive for mastery and excellence.

We therefore wish to call for proper reorientation of chaplains in Nigeria; for standard chaplaincy education, skill acquisition for chaplains to enable us drive to a logical conclusion our efforts to professionalize chaplaincy in Nigeria.

We challenge all chaplains to rise up to team up with us in our efforts to professionalize chaplaincy in Nigeria the right, most appropriate professional way.

Interested in this call contact: Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs for this assignment. Apcin2016@gmail.com; Facebook: @chaplain davidmike; whatsapp No: 09091981944.

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

DMin. Chaplaincy Major, CPC, CCE, CBC.

Professor of Anthropology.