Does Working or Operating in Service Industry, Make One Poor, Impoverished and Irrelevant.

Does Working or Operating in Service Industry, Make One Poor, Impoverished and Irrelevant.

We need to understand what service industry means in chaplaincy, and as chaplains to enable us erase from our memories past indoctrinations and brain-washing from uninformed chaplaincy leaders.

There is no dispute whatsoever that chaplaincy falls in the service industry like many other noble and known professions.

If other professionals providing services are rewarded, remunerated or paid for services provided, it is an abuse for chaplains not to be rewarded, remunerated and paid for services by them just because they are service providers.

We of the Association of Professional Chaplains in Nigeria and Continent of Africa will vehemently stand against all forms of abuse on chaplains and of chaplaincy profession.

Some other examples of professions in the service industry:

1.     Medical profession: All medical professionals whether in public or private settings are rewarded, remunerated and paid for services offered to people.

2.     Governance: Governance is a service industry and all government officials whether elected, appointed or employed are rewarded, remunerated and paid for their services in any capacity or level they serve.

3.     Law profession: Law profession is also in the service industry, yet all legal officers be they in public service or private practice are rewarded, remunerated and paid for services provided by them.

4.     Electricity generation and distribution companies: All utility services and provision power are paid for and all people working for such utility companies are rewarded, remunerated and paid for every service provided by them.

5.     Accounting profession: Accountancy or accounting profession is surely in the service industry, yet all practicing accountants are rewarded, remunerated and paid for services they render to the general public, either in public service or in private practice.

6.     Insurance Companies: Insurance and insuring is in the service industry, yet all insurance brokers, agents and insurance workers are rewarded, remunerated and paid for the services  they offer the public.

7.     Chaplaincy profession: Chaplaincy profession is in a specialized service industry, where the professional practioners are grown, developed, nurtured and equipped through their services provide healthy workers for the production and manufacturing industries even for other service industries.

Why then has chaplaincy suffered in developing nations and economy in terms of reward, remuneration and payments they provide if any?

Kindly make known, reasons why this has been so till date and what steps we need to take collectively as chaplains in the continent of Africa.

Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs

Professional Counselor, Clinical Spirituotherapist and

Certified Chaplaincy Educator in Private Practice