Chaplaincy Profession

Chaplaincy Profession

What a wonderful profession chaplaincy is? In chaplaincy profession:

1.     We have a ministry to both the living and the dead.

2.     We celebrate the living by conducting and officiating ceremonies such weddings, house warming, foundation laying, graduation, promotion, retirement etc.

3.     We also celebrate the dead by conducting burial and funeral ceremonies, memorial services and ceremonies.

4.     We have respect and concern for people; physically, emotionally, psychological and spiritually.

5.     We are concerned with the wellbeing of people here on earth, in this present world and we also have concern for them in the world beyond.

6.     Our care and concern for people goes beyond this present life, for we are concern for their future life (eschatologically).

7.     We have concern for the sick, the afflicted, the wounded, the traumatized, victimized and depressed with the intention of providing them resilience, helping them to obtain the needed healing of their bodies, souls and spirits.

8.     We care, attend to and are concerned for people of all ages, genders, religions, cultures etc.

9.     We advocate equal opportunities for all and equitable justice.

10.                        We pay attention to social aspect of human life, helping to bring meaningful relationships and interactions between people, thereby promoting peaceful co-existence.

11.                        We are concerned and attend to people, helping to bring meaning to their life as well as stand with them and identify with them when they are joyful, sorrowful, suffering pains, when grieving, in hopeless situations; demonstrating our ministry of presence and silence to them in all situations as required.

12.                        We offer a lot of varied services such as pastoral care, spiritual care, psychological care, emotional care, psychosocial care, psychospirituaal care, spirituotherapy, counseling, therapeutic care, the list is enormous.

NB: You will agree with me that just as it is not possible for anyone to understand all about education in the lower classes, it is also impossible for novices in chaplaincy to understand chaplaincy profession and its practice fully, no matter the efforts they make and claim they put forth.

Chaplaincy is a dynamic and wonderful profession! Gracie.

Chap. Prof. Mike David

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

29^th July, 2020

Vision for an Appointed Time

Vision for an Appointed Time

 

Beloved chaplains, Shalom!

I have a dream (vision) that chaplains and chaplaincy profession will attain relevance in like other known professions and professionals in Nigeria and continent of Africa. I also have a very strong feeling in me that the time of actualization of this dream is now.

 

I have no doubts in my mind that we can together work for the actualization of this dream. The Bible says, that even though the vision may tarry, it will surely come to pass.

 

Please let us have this understanding in our minds that “Chaplaincy and chaplaincy practice is needed in all human endeavours and in all sectors of our nation’s economy.”

 

Let us consider the following case studies, which in my opinion will make us work hard for the actualization of the dream for chaplaincy profession: what a big picture?

 

Case study 1: Any time the government of the day is faced with a dilemma or legal issues, the government or her relevant agency will consult with legal counselors or legal firms for advice or legal actions.

 

Question 1: Shall we be right to assume that government or her agency are the ones seeking for these professionals where they have passively hibernating, or they must have made presentations to government before now to let government know what services they are capable of rendering?

 

Case study 2: Any time the national assembly both red and green chambers are in a dilemma or legal issues, they will consult with their counsel or legal firms for legal advise or legal actions. If it is a matter of financial misappropriation or infraction, firms of accounting will be consulted with for needed account auditing etc.

 

Question 2: When exactly will chaplaincy profession and chaplains be in a position to be consulted with for matters requiring chaplaincy services by government, government agencies and national assembly authorities?

 

Question 3: Of what benefit is passivity and lukewramness be to our noble profession?

 

Question 4: What exactly has been the barriers for chaplaincy in this nation? How do we overcome this?

 

Question 5: What should be the way out?

 

Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

25th July, 2020

Chaplaincy Care Services

Chaplaincy Care Services

Chaplaincy care services is a comprehensive care service, yet an inclusive care service. What exactly do I mean by this statement?

Chaplaincy care service is wide and complete in scope. As practicing professional chaplains, we offer care services to the living and the dead, the healthy and the sick, the normal and the abnormal people of the society.

We also offer chaplaincy care services to the distressed, traumatized, depressed, lonely, isolated, victims of circumstances of any kind (e.g. the raped and the rapists and members of their families in practice and service delivery.

We offer chaplaincy care services to people suffering one or more kind of disabilities such as people with mental retardation, imbecility etc.

We also offer chaplaincy care services to overwhelmed frontline professional emergency responders in any emergency situation; frontline professionals like healthcare, service men and women in the military and law enforcement agencies, fire fighters, rescue operators etc, who at times get caught up in compassion fatigue and hazard of their profession.

We offer chaplaincy care services to vulnerable groups in the society such as women, children, girl child, the aged people with difficulties, people with difficult marriages, people with marital and family problems etc with the views of helping in alleviating their sufferings or helping to reduce such sufferings to the barest minimum acceptable level.

We offer chaplaincy care services to people in every sector of the economy in their various professional fields as chaplaincy is a profession cut out to work with other professionals in her practice and service delivery.

We offer chaplaincy care services to religious leaders, political leaders and societal leaders, regardless of their faiths, beliefs and status.

We offer chaplaincy care services in the form of behavioural and attitudinal changes in people to become better members of the society.

What a wonderful windows of opportunities opened to us as chaplains to perform!

Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

3^rd June, 2020

Chaplaincy Profession

Chaplaincy Profession 

1.     Chaplaincy profession has full recognition and respect for religious beliefs and faiths of her professionals.

2.     Chaplaincy profession recognizes and respect the religious beliefs and faiths of clients who come to the practioners for assistance.

3.     Chaplaincy profession makes it mandatory for chaplains seeking professional status to be ordained clergies of their religions.

4.     Chaplaincy profession demands that chaplains have the endorsement of their religious leaders and faith group leaders to perform every religious rights of their religions in their professional practice and service delivery.

5.     Chaplaincy profession demands that practicing professional chaplains bring the glory presence of God into the ministry of presence in the discharge of their professional duties.

6.     Chaplaincy profession demands that chaplains provide multi-faith and interfaith services to people regardless of gender, religion, faith, beliefs, colours, race, status and sexual orientations.

7.     Chaplaincy profession demands that practicing chaplains must not be biased, discriminatory or judgemental in their practice and service delivery.

In conclusion, chaplains are therefore highly elevated and rated by the profession. Chaplains are therefore not ordinary, but distinguished professionals who attend to issues with tact, skills and competence.

People who made their ways into the profession, preserved the dignity and honour associated with this professional calling of theirs and today we enjoy the nobility of the profession.

What are we doing in the present generation to sustain this this nobility?

Remember the foundation of truth has been laid by some people, making chaplaincy profession appealing; what are you building on the foundation that has been laid?

Examine yourself and actions, as history is being recorded as made. Chaplains are respected professionals. Please ensure decorum in all activities.

Chap. Prof. David Mike

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

8^th June, 2020

I am a Professional

I am a Professional

Beloved, I am a professional and I have no regret for being one. This claim of mine can be verified:-

1.     I am a professional clergy, belonging to clergy profession; the second known profession in the medieval times.

2.     I am a professional theologian, belonging to theological to sound theological class of my Christian religion.

3.     I am a professional missionary, trained for mission and missionary activities.

4.     I am a professional human capital developer, belonging to human capital development profession.

5.     I am a professional chaplain, counselor, psychotherapist and spiritual care provider, belonging to chaplaincy profession.

NB: I am also privileged to have been equipped to present the gospel effectively which many of you called evangelism to the public in their different classes and status. I know how to present the gospel to :-

a.     The secularists,

b.     The intellectual communities,

c.      The scientists,

d.     The professionals in different fields,

e.     The political and the elites,

In a professional manner. Professionalism is not a sin

Chap. Prof. Mike David

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

7^th June, 2020

Specialization and Religion

Specialization and Religion

The need for this exclusive and discourse is informed by a calculated attempt to present to innocent people of this continent, Africa as an area of professional specialization. It is a normal thing in science and scientific discourse that every claim made is substantiated with facts, figures and proofs.

Chaplaincy profession is also a part of science, an empirical disciple area of study or vocation which requires experiential evidences and proofs. Please journey with me to make some discoveries:-

1.     Epidemiology is a specialized area of medicine (disease control) with specialist professionals called epidemiologists. These specialist professionals may be:-

a.     Christian epidemiologists.

b.     Hindu epidemiologists.

c.      Humanist epidemiologists.

d.     Muslim epidemiologists, etc.

2.     Virology is another specialized area of medical science, with the professional practioners called virologists. These specialist professionals may be:-

a.     Christian virologists.

b.     Muslim virologists.

c.      Hindu virologists.

d.     Humanist virologists, etc.

3.     Radiology is a specialized area of medical practice, with the specialist professionals called radiologist. They may be:-

a.     Christian radiologists.

b.     Muslim radiologists.

c.      Hindu radiologists, etc.

4.     Psychiatry is another area of specialization in medical science, with the professionals called psychiatric doctors. These professionals may be:-

a.     Christian psychiatric doctor.

b.     Muslin psychiatric doctor.

c.      Jewish psychiatric doctor.

d.     Humanist psychiatric doctor, etc.

Legal or law profession is another profession with known numbers of specialized areas of practice such as:-

1.     Criminal law, this is a specialized area of legal practice with the professionals called criminal lawyers, they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, new age criminal lawyers etc, as per their individual religion and belief.

2.     Civil law, this is another specialized area of legal practice with the specialists called civil lawyers and they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, pagan, atheists, etc.

3.     Environmental law, it is another area of specialization in legal professional with their specialists called environmental lawyers and they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, pagan, atheists, etc.

4.     Constitutional law, this is another area of specialization in legal practice with the professionals called constitutional lawyers, they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, pagan, atheists, etc.

5.     International law, another area of specialization in legal practice with their specialists called constitutional lawyers and they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, pagan, atheists, Jewish etc.

The various religious and faith groups all these professionals belong to does not affect their professional specializations as they in their chosen profession make all to live with their various religious beliefs, practicing their chosen profession; religion to them is not an area of specialization.

Chaplaincy profession: As a chaplain, permit me to dwell a little more or deeper into areas of specialization in chaplaincy profession and practice for clarity of purpose and with no ambiguity whatsoever.

1.     Health care chaplaincy. This is the most developed area of specialization in chaplaincy profession and practice, with the specialists called Healthcare chaplains which include hospital chaplains, hospice chaplains, and palliative care chaplains. They may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

2.     Mental health chaplaincy. This is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession with the specialists called mental health chaplains; they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

3.     Correctional or prison chaplains. This is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession with the specialists called correctional or prison chaplains; they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

4.     Education chaplaincy, which include schools, colleges and universities is another area of chaplaincy specialization with their specialists called school chaplains, college chaplains, university chaplains; they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

5.     Eco or environmental chaplaincy  is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession with their specialists called eco chaplains or environmental chaplains and they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

6.     Animal chaplaincy is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession with the specialists called animal chaplains; they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

7.     Industrial chaplaincy is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession and the specialists are called industrial chaplains; they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

8.     And so many more.

The religious affiliation of these specialists in chaplaincy profession and practice does not alter their specializations or practice in chaplaincy profession; who then are religious chaplains or what then is religious chaplaincy?

If they are not areas of specialization, they are qualified professional chaplains in most cases certified professional chaplains, who came together because of their religious beliefs and faith to offer professional chaplaincy services to people of their own faiths. Sometimes, they are denominational chaplains as well such as:

a.     Catholic chaplains.

b.     Protestant chaplains.

c.      Seven day Adventist chaplains.

d.     Anglican chaplains.

e.     Muslim chaplains etc.

They are different and separate from interfaith and interreligious professional chaplains who serve in a pluralistic settings in the society.

Chap. Prof. Mike David

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

15^th July, 2020

Specialization and Religion

Specialization and Religion

The need for this exclusive and discourse is informed by a calculated attempt to present to innocent people of this continent, Africa as an area of professional specialization. It is a normal thing in science and scientific discourse that every claim made is substantiated with facts, figures and proofs.

Chaplaincy profession is also a part of science, an empirical disciple area of study or vocation which requires experiential evidences and proofs. Please journey with me to make some discoveries:-

1.     Epidemiology is a specialized area of medicine (disease control) with specialist professionals called epidemiologists. These specialist professionals may be:-

a.     Christian epidemiologists.

b.     Hindu epidemiologists.

c.      Humanist epidemiologists.

d.     Muslim epidemiologists, etc.

2.     Virology is another specialized area of medical science, with the professional practioners called virologists. These specialist professionals may be:-

a.     Christian virologists.

b.     Muslim virologists.

c.      Hindu virologists.

d.     Humanist virologists, etc.

3.     Radiology is a specialized area of medical practice, with the specialist professionals called radiologist. They may be:-

a.     Christian radiologists.

b.     Muslim radiologists.

c.      Hindu radiologists, etc.

4.     Psychiatry is another area of specialization in medical science, with the professionals called psychiatric doctors. These professionals may be:-

a.     Christian psychiatric doctor.

b.     Muslin psychiatric doctor.

c.      Jewish psychiatric doctor.

d.     Humanist psychiatric doctor, etc.

Legal or law profession is another profession with known numbers of specialized areas of practice such as:-

1.     Criminal law, this is a specialized area of legal practice with the professionals called criminal lawyers, they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, new age criminal lawyers etc, as per their individual religion and belief.

2.     Civil law, this is another specialized area of legal practice with the specialists called civil lawyers and they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, pagan, atheists, etc.

3.     Environmental law, it is another area of specialization in legal professional with their specialists called environmental lawyers and they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, pagan, atheists, etc.

4.     Constitutional law, this is another area of specialization in legal practice with the professionals called constitutional lawyers, they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, pagan, atheists, etc.

5.     International law, another area of specialization in legal practice with their specialists called constitutional lawyers and they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, pagan, atheists, Jewish etc.

The various religious and faith groups all these professionals belong to does not affect their professional specializations as they in their chosen profession make all to live with their various religious beliefs, practicing their chosen profession; religion to them is not an area of specialization.

Chaplaincy profession: As a chaplain, permit me to dwell a little more or deeper into areas of specialization in chaplaincy profession and practice for clarity of purpose and with no ambiguity whatsoever.

1.     Health care chaplaincy. This is the most developed area of specialization in chaplaincy profession and practice, with the specialists called Healthcare chaplains which include hospital chaplains, hospice chaplains, and palliative care chaplains. They may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

2.     Mental health chaplaincy. This is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession with the specialists called mental health chaplains; they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

3.     Correctional or prison chaplains. This is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession with the specialists called correctional or prison chaplains; they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

4.     Education chaplaincy, which include schools, colleges and universities is another area of chaplaincy specialization with their specialists called school chaplains, college chaplains, university chaplains; they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

5.     Eco or environmental chaplaincy  is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession with their specialists called eco chaplains or environmental chaplains and they may be Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

6.     Animal chaplaincy is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession with the specialists called animal chaplains; they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

7.     Industrial chaplaincy is another area of specialization in chaplaincy profession and the specialists are called industrial chaplains; they may come as Christians, Muslims, humanists, Hindu, Jewish etc.

8.     And so many more.

The religious affiliation of these specialists in chaplaincy profession and practice does not alter their specializations or practice in chaplaincy profession; who then are religious chaplains or what then is religious chaplaincy?

If they are not areas of specialization, they are qualified professional chaplains in most cases certified professional chaplains, who came together because of their religious beliefs and faith to offer professional chaplaincy services to people of their own faiths. Sometimes, they are denominational chaplains as well such as:

a.     Catholic chaplains.

b.     Protestant chaplains.

c.      Seven day Adventist chaplains.

d.     Anglican chaplains.

e.     Muslim chaplains etc.

They are different and separate from interfaith and interreligious professional chaplains who serve in a pluralistic settings in the society.

Chap. Prof. Mike David

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

15^th July, 2020