Comprehensive, Contemporary Definition of Chaplaincy

CCD OF C

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

DMin. Chaplaincy Major, CPC, CCE, CBC.

Professor of Anthropology.

Comprehensive, Contemporary Definition of Chaplaincy:

The dynamic nature of our age coupled with the dynamism of chaplaincy makes it mandatory for us to consider a comprehensive, contemporary definition of what chaplaincy thought of or to be in this age. This attempt even though comprehensive has room to accommodate future definitions.

1.    Chaplaincy is a profession cut out for inter-faith clergies/clerics/ministers who have been assigned the task of identifying numerous problems of humanity with the views of proffering the needed solutions to them.

2.    Chaplaincy is a profession, where the practicing professionals are expected to stand in identifying with people who are victims of circumstances and situations; bringing succor to them and helping to encourage them to develop the needed coping capacity to live above their situations in life.

3.    Chaplaincy is a profession, where the practicing professionals have the mandate to provide professional counseling and counseling facilities to all who need such services without condemnation or bias.

4.    Chaplaincy is a profession and practice, where care and service delivery to the general public is regulated by ethics to prevent haphazard way of rendering uncoordinated services by the practioners.

5.    Chaplaincy is an humanitarian profession and practice targeted at alleviating or reducing the sufferings of people afflicted upon them by natural disaster or man-made disaster, crisis of whatsoever nature, conflict, pain etc to the barest minimum acceptable and tolerable level for human living.

6.    Chaplaincy is a discipline in which one can take a study, a professional practice opened to all to engage in a professional practice and a profession that has put in place standard practice for its practioners to follow.

7.    Chaplaincy is a profession, where the care of the down trodden, the traumatized, the sick, terminally ill and the victimized remains its primary focus and concern in the professional practice and service delivery.

8.    Chaplaincy is a profession which encourages forensic investigation of the root causes of problems confronting humanity and the provision of scientific solutions to such problems.

9.    Chaplaincy is a profession and practice where psycho-social problems are tackled or handled by therapeutic treatments such as psychotherapy, psycho-spirituo-therapy, psycho-theology, logotherapy etc.

10. Chaplaincy is a humanizing profession, where every human being is guaranteed equal and humane care and treatment at all times, irrespective of gender, status in life, class, religious leanings, political affiliations, tribe, culture, race and nationality.

The practicing professionals known and called “Chaplains” have the obligations to provide care and services to the general public, without any form of segregation, intimidation, humiliation or coercion.

11. Chaplaincy is a profession where the practioners take spiritual oversight and covering for the general public in all sector of the economy such as;

a.    Health care sector.

b.    Industrial sector.

c.    Political sector.

d.    Government sector.

e.    Business sector.

f.     Workplace.

g.    Military sector.

h.    Paramilitary sector.

i.      Aviation and transport sector.

j.      Legislative sector.

k.    Judiciary.

12. Chaplaincy s considered to be a multi-faith, multi-dimensional, multi-cultural, multi-faceted humane, humanitarian, pragmatic and dynamic profession that seeks to guarantee that all human beings enjoy their God-given lives to the fullest in whatever condition and situations they find themselves, not suffering beyond the acceptable level nature guarantees, as no human being exists without sufferings and hurting.

Chaplaincy profession therefore provides the ministry of care and presence for all human beings passing through one difficulty or the other, with the intention of building their up their coping capacity for resilience and restoration to normalcy in every of their life’s endeavours.

13. Chaplaincy is a profession that is favourably disposed to bringing about attitudinal and behavioural changes in people to ensure that there is an egalitarian society where people will have positive attitudes and demonstrate good behaviors to all national issues and concerns.

Our world has demonstrated some dynamism over the years and problems facing our generation are also dynamic requiring the attendance and touch of practicing professionals who are pragmatic in handling them.

Chaplaincy has therefore gone beyond yester years. The way chaplaincy was perceived some decades ago is not the way chaplaincy is perceived today. What chaplaincy was thought to be in some decades ago is not what chaplaincy has become today.

The status of chaplaincy two or three decades ago has changed considerably, as chaplaincy has assumed full-fledged professional status with chaplains found serving humanity in every aspect of life and human endeavor.