Proper Understanding of Chaplaincy is a MUST for Us

Proper Understanding of Chaplaincy is a MUST for Us 

Preamble: 

Chaplaincy has become a household word in various societies of our world and age; yet there are a lot of confusion and misgiven surrounding chaplaincy, chaplaincy practice and service delivery, especially in the continent of Africa and Nigeria in particular.

Proper understanding of what chaplaincy is and stand for will be of tremendous assistance for the people in placing chaplaincy where it belongs and also assist the practicing practioners (chaplains) to understand what they are called to do, and how serious they need to take such calling for the benefit of humanity.

Chaplaincy: Chaplaincy is people-oriented, people-focused and people-concerned. Without people, there is nothing called chaplaincy. Chaplaincy devotes her attention and gives her all to people such as in:-

1.     People’s comfort and joy.

2.     People’s care and welfare.

3.     People’s wholeness.

4.     People’s wellness and health both physically, spiritually, psychological, emotionally and otherwise.

5.     People’s wholesomeness.

6.     People’s development and advancement.

7.     People’s behaviours and interpersonal relationships.

8.     People’s responses and reactions to situations etc.

It is therefore no wonder that chaplaincy has rightly been said to be people oriented profession. Chaplaincy treasures God-given life to individual persons and people’s lives collectively.

Chaplaincy at all times seeks to uphold the sacredness and sanctity of life as endowed everyone by the Almighty God. The practicing professional of chaplaincy are held bound to esteem life as important and sacred, allowing no one to toy with people’s lives in their professional practice and service delivery.

What Chaplaincy Profession is all About:

Because chaplaincy is cut to safeguard God-given lives; all problems in the life journey of people becomes the concern in chaplaincy profession and practice, and her professionals at any point in time seeks to handle life issues and problems with the views of finding the needed solutions to them; to ensure that people enjoy their God-given lives to the fullest with minimal pains, sufferings and agonies.

1.     Chaplaincy profession is not in any way to bring confusion nor compound the problems of people in life; but it is a profession cut out to seek for a way of solving problems, bringing meaning to people’s life and adding value to people’s life.

2.     Chaplaincy profession is cut out to give succor and comfort to people who have actually been beaten and bartered by life circumstances, people who have been treated badly by others and the society.

3.     Chaplaincy profession is cut out to ensure peaceful co-existence between all people irrespective of their differences, religions, cultures, sexualities etc. in various communities and societies where chaplaincy presence is felt.

The practicing professionals called “Chaplains” are mandated to develop programmes that will neutralize bitter jealousy, anger, bitterness etc. but bring people together with mutual understanding to ensure peaceful co-existence in all cultures, communities and societies of our world.

4.     Chaplaincy is a profession seeking to attend to all known problems of people, with the intention of helping to bring solution to such problems, thereby releasing the people to enjoy their liberties planned for them by the Almighty God.

Problems that are capable of brining pains, sorrows, sufferings and hurting upon people are addressed and attended to by practicing professional in chaplaincy practice and service delivery in various societies, such as listed below:-

a.     Relationship problems that seem to cause hurting, hatred and sorrow in people who are in unhealthy relationships. Practicing professionals are expected to develop therapeutic programme to help the victims and heal their hurting; so that they live their lives with less agony and suffering while in relationships.

b.     Marital problems, which may affect the productivity of people in every life’s endeavours. The practicing professionals of chaplaincy are expected to design and develop therapeutic treatment plan in regards to helping the couple to solve their problem and maintain and enjoy a good marital relationship.

c.      Addiction problems, capable of destroying the personality of people and render them worthless in life. The practicing professionals of chaplaincy are expected to fashion out interventions, treatment and recovery programmes for the addicts to enable them bounce back to normalcy.

d.     And many other problems that people are confronted with in life, professional practicing chaplains are expected to help and find how to solve them and give the people meaning in life.

In Conclusion, I wish to say more emphatically that proper understanding of chaplaincy becomes a necessity for us now; that the practicing professionals of chaplaincy profession may know how to go about the discharge of their duties as professional chaplaincy practioners.

Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CPC

Certified Chaplaincy Educator