The Need for Proper Re-presentation of Chaplaincy to the Public

The Need for Proper Re-presentation of Chaplaincy to the Public 

In the past, chaplaincy had been presented to the general public in different ways many at times in a ridiculous and destructive manner. For examples:

1.     Chaplaincy is presented to some as paramilitary outfit; we of Association of Professional Chaplains say no to such presentation.

2.     Chaplaincy had been presented to some as purely militia; we of Association of Professional Chaplains say no to such presentation.

3.     Chaplaincy had been presented to the public as religious; we of Association of Professional Chaplains say no to such presentation as there are Catholic chaplains, Jewish chaplains, Islamic chaplains, Christian chaplains, Hindu chaplains, Buddhist chaplains, humanist chaplain etc.

4.     Chaplaincy had been presented to some as a alms giving (charitable work); we of Association of Professional Chaplains say no to such presentation for chaplaincy attained professional status in early 20^th Century world-wide.

Right chaplaincy presentation is to present chaplaincy in the limelight of professional practice, a multi-faith profession; offering multi-faith services in a pluralistic settings.

Chap. Prof. Mike-David

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professionalizing Chaplaincy What it Entails

Professionalizing Chaplaincy What it Entails

1.     Making chaplaincy a profession, more than just an occupation or work.

2.     Growing practicing professional chaplains who will practice chaplaincy in the most appropriate and acceptable professional manner.

Professionalizing chaplaincy is a service business that requires strategic planning, strategic goal-setting, systematic action plan, and commitment from the knowledge-authority of chaplaincy profession, conducive environment, and expertise on the part of all chaplains, qualitative education, professional skills and competence. Be part of this continental move.

Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professionalizing Chaplaincy in Nigeria and Continent of Africa

Professionalizing Chaplaincy in Nigeria and Continent of Africa

This is a task that must be done and must be done rightly too. We are pleased to put in place what essentials that must be put in place to enhance speedy attainment of this pursuit of ours such as:-

1.     Developing a standard beneficial chaplaincy education and training programme for all chaplains and intending chaplains in Nigeria and continent of Africa.

2.     Adequately equipping chaplains to enable them grow above and beyond functionality problems.

3.     Developing a common codes of ethics of chaplaincy practice for all chaplains in this part of the world.

4.     Developing a common code of conduct for practicing chaplains in Nigeria and continent of Africa.

5.     Developing a standard of chaplaincy practice for all chaplains in this part of the world.

6.     Enforcing a standardized and quality chaplaincy practice and service delivery at any point in time by all practicing chaplains in Nigeria and continent of Africa.

7.     Enforcement of the ethical standard of behavior and practice, including the punishment for any chaplain that faults such.

8.     Developing a standardized professional chaplaincy education that will prepare chaplains for professional chaplaincy certification.

9.     Developing a standardized chaplaincy continuous education program and information dissemination to all chaplains regardless of their religions, gender, cultures and differences.

Professionalizing chaplaincy in Nigeria and continent of Africa is beyond paying lip service to require deliberate and systematic actions

Chap. Prof. Mike David

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

My God-Given Mandate on Chaplaincy Profession and Practice

My God-Given Mandate on Chaplaincy Profession and Practice

Mandate is defined by the dictionary as:-

1.     A charge or a command from a senior officer to the other, ordering him/her on how to act.

2.     A right given to someone to act on the behalf of another.

3.     The commissioning of somebody to do something in life.

4.     The authority to do something.

5.     An official order given to someone to perform a particular task.

My God-given mandate on chaplaincy profession and practice remains:-

1.     Taking chaplaincy education to the limelight in societies of our world.

2.     Positive orientation on chaplaincy practice.

3.     Making actual professional chaplaincy practice lucrative and desired by practicing chaplains in the continent of Africa.

4.     As a change maker, bringing about positive changes and beneficial ones to chaplaincy practice.

5.     Bringing about attitudinal and behavioural changes in the generality of people as chaplaincy is practice in the developed world.

6.     Ensuring there is the needed sanity in chaplaincy practice and profession in our world.

7.     Developing careers, creating job opportunities for professional chaplains in all aspects of human endeavours.

8.     Promoting chaplaincy practice and profession in the continent of Africa.

9.     Making chaplaincy practice and profession address problems of people professionally and proffer the needed solutions to such problems.

10.                        Ensuring the functionalities of all trained chaplains by developing career chaplains who will work every sector of the economy which is in commensurate with their educational standards, level of training, skill acquired etc.

11.                        Ensuring that the pluralistic nature of chaplaincy profession and service delivery is uphold at all times by all chaplains.

12.                        Making sure that chaplaincy profession and practice does not lose her interfaith status becoming parochial and narrow minded or restricted to the services of people of a particular religion, creed and denomination.

13.                        Ensuring that the needed spiritual care, covering and oversight is provided by professional practicing chaplains in the continent of Africa.

14.                        Working assiduously to see that chaplaincy profession is professionalized and practiced in the professional manner by chaplains in the continent of Africa.

15.                        Setting a good standard of chaplaincy practice and code of ethics for chaplains in the continent of Africa.

My God-given mandate therefore is God’s commission and assignment or task that He has given to me to accomplish in chaplaincy profession and service delivery, especially, in the continent of Africa. May the good Lord grant me the grace to accomplish this mandate in Jesus Name! Amen.

Chap. Prof. David Mike

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professional Misconduct of a Chaplain

Professional Misconduct of a Chaplain

Misconduct can be defined as:-

1.     That which deserves blame.

2.     Ill desort.

3.     A fault or vice.

4.     Wrong conduct, bad behavior as well as mismanagement.

5.     Bad or dishonest management.

6.     Activities that transpasses moral or civil law.

Professional misconduct on the part of any practicing chaplain in any part of the points raised or enumerated above is detrimental to chaplaincy profession and practice.

It is my intention to make all chaplains understand what can be called misconduct and how to run away from whatever can be called misconduct that will land them into trouble in the discharge of their professional chaplaincy duties.

Any chaplain that is found guilty of the above definition of misconduct in his/her practice may be sued, suspended or sanctioned. What is important for us as practicing chaplains is for us to render whatever chaplaincy services we are called upon to do in the most appropriate and acceptable manner, conduct and character.

Our behaviours, characters and the conduct with which we carry out our legitimate duties is something to be serious with.

A chaplain can be accused of professional misconduct if he/she contravene civil laws, moral laws, the professional ethics and standards in the discharge of his/her duties. Chaplains are regarded as epitome of morality, and we must therefore demonstrate and maintain high moral standards in our professional practice.

It is mandatory for us to behave well, conduct ourselves with dignity and show good morals in our day to day practice and service delivery.

Chap. Prof. David Mike

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professional Chaplains

Professional Chaplains

A profession is said to be a highly skilled work, or a job requiring high education and training. It is also a group of people engaged in a specialized work requiring high skills, training, education and knowledge.

Professionalism in any given profession requires specialized skill acquisition, high level of training and education which enhances competence, skill and proficiency on the part of the professionals in carrying out their duties, and rendering profitable services.

A professional is that person who has been adequately trained in a specialized type of work, that requires a high degree of education and competence in occupying the position made for such and performing the task and duties attached to such position or placement.

By every standard, professionals are expected to be highly trained and skilled people, responsible for performing the assigned  tasks  in the most appropriate, profitable and efficient manner to the admiration of people and colleagues,

These professionals always go about the performance of their assigned duties in the best acceptable professional ways and in accordance with their profession’s standards and ethics.

Professionals are by no means mediocre as they are educated to be on top of the situations, showcasing their competence and proficiency in the discharge of their duties and fulfilling their responsibilities in service delivery as specialists in their fields.

Professional Chaplains are clergies or clerics of any religion, who have been adequately trained, prepared and equipped to perform specialize chaplaincy service delivery to people in various sector of the economy.

Professional Chaplains are expected to be highly educated, trained and skilled to competently handle tasks assigned to them professionally. They are expected to be highly skillful in providing the needed solution to challenges and problems of humanity.

Professional chaplains are expected to take chaplaincy practice and services to every sector of the economy, as there are vacancies for them in all human endeavours to practice the chosen profession.

Professional chaplains should be responsible for the advancement of their profession and help bring about the needed improvement in the profession through their best practices.

Professional chaplains should champion the advocacy needed in the chaplaincy profession.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professionalism, Honesty and Integrity in Chaplaincy Practice

Professionalism, Honesty and Integrity in Chaplaincy Practice 

Professionalism can be defined as:-

1.     A high standard expected from a person who is well trained in a particular job or profession.

2.     Great skill and ability.

3.     The practice of using professionals in service delivery profession.

Honesty can be defined as: Quality of being honest and sincere in dealing with people in rendering services.

Integrity id defined as: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

Chaplains who by their trainings are expected to be highly skilled and qualified to render chaplaincy services, spiritual care and counseling. They must at all times be prepared to demonstrate professionalism in service delivery as required by their callings and specializations.

Chaplains are expected to demonstrate a high degree of morality and moral principles. They are expected to be sincere in serving humanity without any form of deception, falsehood and extortion of those they are called to serve.

One of the duties and responsibilities of chaplains all over the world, is to assist in reducing or eliminating pains in victims of circumstances. In the discharge of this duty, chaplains expected to be unbiased, transparent and not adding to their pains and injuries the victims had been exposed to; increasing pains and making the conditions of the victims worse is unethical practice in chaplaincy practice.

Chaplaincy are hereby called upon to be highly disciplined as professional service and spiritual care provider; making professionalism their watch word. Imbibing professionalism in practice will not only engender chaplains to the public and societies, but will also help promote the chaplaincy profession nationwide and globally.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Knowledge-Authorities in Chaplaincy Profession

Knowledge-Authorities in Chaplaincy Profession

1.     Knowledge-authorities in chaplaincy are leaders in chaplaincy profession who know what chaplaincy stands for and can defend it anywhere and at any point in time.

2.     Chaplaincy leaders who know what chaplaincy entails and are practicing chaplaincy professionally.

3.     Chaplaincy leaders who are not only knowledgeable and competent to practice chaplaincy professionally but are also teaching and leading others by example.

4.     Chaplaincy leaders of high integrity who by such qualities advancing the course of chaplaincy amongst the general public.

5.     Chaplaincy practioners who have been tested and can be trusted with live issues and people’s problems for proper handling.

6.     Chaplaincy leaders who care for the development of individual chaplains to offer actual chaplaincy practice professionally and competently to the general public.

7.     Chaplaincy leaders who are committed to advancing chaplaincy practice and service delivery to all and sundry irrespective of their differences, ethnicities and religions.

8.     Chaplaincy leaders who are resolutely committed to see chaplaincy professionalized in the continent of Africa and are prepared to pursue it to a logical conclusion.

9.     Chaplaincy leaders who by their qualities and beneficial services they offer can make the acceptance of chaplaincy profession and chaplains by the public easy and thus the needed public recognition attained.

10.                         These are actual chaplaincy leader of high educational standard who are prepared to move chaplaincy to the next level and status through their knowledge, competence, skills etc.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professional Advancement

Professional Advancement 

While we are still grappling with actual chaplaincy practice and personal presence of chaplains in various situations, tele-chaplains have emerged and operating presently in the developed nations of the world.

In this part of the world, Nigeria and the continent of Africa, we are still advocating and bleeding that chaplains embrace professional chaplaincy practice. There need to be a synergy between chaplains and various professionals, chaplaincy organization world over to advance our choice profession “Chaplaincy” and move on in the current development.

Chaplaincy profession has remained dynamically dynamic and has refused stagnation. Practicing chaplains all over the world are advancing on daily basis looking for ways to advance chaplaincy practice.

Let us join the pace-setter in the chaplaincy profession to advance chaplaincy practice and service delivery. We must learn to come out of the second fiddle syndrome. May God help us in this part of the world.

This current development and advancement in chaplaincy practice and service delivery is capable of keeping practicing professional chaplains on their toes; ensuring that they make their presence felt and their ministry of presence felt by the public.

The actual presence, especially the priestly presence of chaplains in many situations cannot be brushed aside.

It is interesting that this current development and advancement in chaplaincy practice came with it challenges and problems. What in your opinion are such challenges and problems?

Also this current development and advancement in the practice of chaplaincy has brought already with it some benefits and advantages, such as:-

1.     It makes the practice of chaplaincy real, and exposes fakes, quacks.

2.     It helps in the process of professionalization of chaplaincy profession.

3.     It showcases the right chaplaincy practice and exposes erroneous practices.

4.     It is capable of reaching more people at a time. By a single application, many clients’ needs are met

5.     It is capable of bringing along with it illumination that will enlighten the public and expose wrong doings which ignorant people have classified to be chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

6.     The current development has actually taken chaplaincy practice and service delivery to the next level.

We should all brace up for further advancement and development as chaplaincy is not static; not just an occupation but a profession.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Chaplaincy Profession

                                             Chaplaincy Profession 

Beloved professionals of this noble profession, there is much you need to know of the profession you belong to and work assiduously to engage in activities that project the profession.

1.     Chaplaincy profession is so versatile, encompassing and comprehensive and kind to accommodate all varieties of practice and services.

2.     Chaplaincy profession is all inclusive that various kinds of chaplaincy practice and service delivery has a place in the profession.

3.     Diversities and varieties of services available to various kinds of professionals in chaplaincy profession give the colour and beauty to our noble profession.

4.     Chaplaincy profession remains a unity and indivisible profession, however, variety of chaplaincy organizations and associations there are today in the world forms only part of the whole.

NB: Different chaplaincy organizations and associations are only part of the same thing: “Chaplaincy Profession.”

It is an error of judgment for any chaplaincy organization or association to claim to be chaplaincy profession while there is no crime in giving oneself to providing a specific service, we are to realize we all belong to the whole body.

The varieties and diversities found in chaplaincy profession gives the colouration and beauty which chaplaincy profession enjoys today. Some of these varieties that are found in chaplaincy profession are as follows:

1.     Human Chaplaincy:

i.        Health care chaplaincy (which include hospital, hospice, palliative and mental health).

ii.      Marriage/family chaplaincy.

iii.    Correctional chaplaincy.

iv.   Institution/education chaplaincy.

v.     Cruise chaplaincy.

vi.   Transport chaplaincy.

vii. Tourism and tour chaplaincy.

viii.  Oil and gas chaplaincy.

ix.       Agricultural chaplaincy.

Focusing attention on human beings and providing solutions to problems confronting the people in such sector of the economy.

2.     Animal Chaplaincy: Focusing attention on animals, their well beings as well as owners of such animals.

3.     Inanimate Chaplaincy: Focusing attention on other living things apart from humans and animals such as plants and crops.

4.     Eco or Nature Chaplaincy: Focusing attention on nature and ecology such as the earth, soil environment etc.

                                                    Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs
                                                   Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professionalism

                                                    Professionalism

Just as professionalism has become the desired feat in all known professions of the world, professionalism has become our desired pursuit in the Association of Professional Chaplains in Nigeria and Continent of Africa in chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

We of APCIN are standing on this premises that competent professional practice and service delivery is capable of making us dignified and values added to chaplaincy profession; this is enough to announce us.

Cutting pf corners will meet with very stiff opposition as it is considered a disservice and destructive. 

                                                               Chap. Prof. Mike

                                                     Certified Chaplaincy Educator