Webinar Presentation Delivered by

Chaplain Dr. Joy David-Mike

On 15^th Oct, 2021AD

Topic: Chaplaincy in the Industrial and Business Sector

Introduction:

Industrial or business chaplaincy is a chaplaincy practice geared toward people in the economic life. It is taking chaplaincy profession, care and services on mission into various industries and business concerns such as marketplaces, industries (manufacturing, construction or service) or other institutions that are business centered.

The idea of chaplaincy among people in the economic life is not new, the practice has existed for centuries – from Britain and the industrial revolution and later to US, mainly dominated by Christian faith clergies reaching out to people in economic life.

The  Development of Industrial and Business Chaplaincy:

Though at its inception, industrial and business chaplaincy was limited to Christian religion but today is no longer the trend or limited to any particular religion or faith group as there are growth in proportion of people who identify with other religions who are in industrial and business sector such as Hindus, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhist, Jewish etc.

This has made industrial and business chaplaincy to become multi-religious and multi-faith in nature, comprising and accommodating all people irrespective of age, ethnicity, religious affiliation, social status etc, in its practice.

Definition of Industrial and Business Chaplaincy:

Industrial and business chaplaincy is chaplaincy practice and service delivery in workplaces of all descriptions such heavy manufacturing industries and construction firms. This chaplaincy scopes also include airports, seaports, road transports, service industries etc.

Chaplaincy care in a modern industries and business concerns is a growing trend and a much needed one in this technological and rapid growth age.

Industrial and business chaplaincy is related to workplace chaplaincy such as we see in US (Marketplace chaplaincy, Cooperate chaplaincy Association of America). It is one of the most varied areas or aspects of chaplaincy profession, practice and service delivery because it is all encompassing in nature.

The Emergence of Chaplaincy in Industrial and Business Sector

In UK, the history was associated with the city of Sheffield, where the first industrial chaplaincy mission (known as Britain Industrial Mission) was established in 1944AD. This was as a result of the understanding of Bishop Lesile Hunter, Bishop of Sheffield who discovered that the Church of England had been losing touch with people in the individualized and business cities during the inter-war years.

Bishop Lisile then sent the Rev’d Ted Wickam into factories to engage workers, this approach of his was well received by the working people.

In 1959, the Industrial Mission Association was formed, by late 1970s, it was at its height with an estimated number of 115 full-time and 175 part-time clergies who engaged in industrial chaplaincy in UK.

Due to the changing dynamics of the economy, with economic activity moving away from traditional industry and business to consumer and service industries, the industrial mission association changed its name to “Workplace Chaplaincy Mission UK” in 2018AD with 500 chaplains across UK.

In US, the justifiable claim of the industrial and business chaplaincy started in 1940s, but there was a claim that the first known industrial and business chaplaincy ministry was established in 1643, at the Saugus Iron Works, Massachusetts. The industrial and business chaplaincy was later replicated with corporate chaplaincy in 1980s.

Industrial and Business Chaplains:

An industrial or business chaplain is someone who works for a business or an industry, who offers workplace chaplaincy care and services to the industry or business concern as well as to its employees.

Majority of people spend most of their waking lives in their workplaces and contrary to what people might think and management might wish, employees’ personal problems don’t evaporate when the whistle blows; they carried the hangover to work. And if this is not taken care of, will affect their effectiveness and productivity at work.

Industrial and business chaplains (workplace chaplains) support both people at work, customers/clients or visitors in a wide variety of working environments.

Industrial and business chaplains are always ecumenical and pragmatic in nature and practice with the mainstream clergies from different religions and faith groups working together and also lay persons’ involvement.

Industrial and business chaplaincy (or Marketplace chaplaincy) practioners are becoming diverse in the sorts of business or organization or industry they relate to or serve; such as transportation companies/industry, construction industry, manufacturing industry, retail shops, service industries, business centers, marketplaces etc.

Chaplains in the industrial and business sectors offer various chaplaincy care and services to workers/employees, employers, and the management. Emotional and spiritual support they provide in the industrial and business sector is on the rise in the developed nations.

There are chaplains from various chaplaincy associations to serve this growing field. This calls for a great concern for us in Africa and most importantly Nigeria in particular.

Three Objectives of Industrial and Business Chaplaincy

1.     That the world of work is the part of God’s realm and that people matter in a work community, they need chaplaincy care and services as well.

2.     The care of the hurt and disadvantaged within the work community and also for the unemployed without a work community.

3.     The development of a competent theology of work and industrial/business chaplaincy.

Their Roles: The role of industrial and business involve but not limited to the following:

·        Giving listening ears to people in the economic life.

·        Being present with them and in any situation to give guidance or counsel on matters related to emotional, psychological or spiritual crisis or needs etc.

·        Working across all levels of departments in the industry or business concern for the good of the organization.

·        Collaborating with other departments in the industry or business such as occupational health dept., human resources or trade unions when dealing with organizational or individual issues.

·        Supporting individual employee or sometimes a whole department in crisis situation, such as when there is the occurrence of sudden unexpected tragedy, stress, redundancy of individual and personal or affecting the whole department or organization.

These and many more are the roles of industrial and business chaplains.       

Why Chaplaincy in Industrial and Business Sector?

Different faith and religious groups provide chaplaincy in industrial and business sector because it is important for them to maintain contact with the economic life of the society.

No one will want a particular religion or faith communities which are exclusively concerned with their own life and affairs, this is what make chaplaincy industrial and business an interfaith, inter-religious and multi-faith professional practice.

“Chaplaincy existed for the benefit of those who are members of a particular religion or faith groups and as well as of those who are none.” And that is what we chaplains must sustain.

Benefits of/from Chaplaincy in Industrial and Business Sector:

In developed nations like UK, US and Australia, Industrial and business chaplaincy (Workplace chaplaincy) has been rated a valuable employee benefit.

Though chaplains are not there for only life difficulties. A good chaplain will:

1.     Contribute to the positive atmosphere of working environment.

2.     Encourage workers/employees at all times to enhance effectiveness.

3.     Affirm their values to the organization or industry they serve.

4.     Be able to link workers with places of worship for any religious ceremonies or celebrations.

5.     Be able to train people in basic budgeting skills to enable them make good use of their resources and salaries if knowledgeable in such aspect.

Important of Chaplaincy in the Industrial and Business Sector

It is often said that the most important assets a business or industry has are its people (workers). If this is a sure fact, this assets need to be care for and there is no factory or instrument put in place anywhere in the world which will be used for the maintenance of this unique assets in any given industry, business or organization because they are not machines or robots but humans who are created in three unique parts which requires wholistic care and attention for wholisitic health and well-being that will enable them to function optimally for successful growth and expansion of the business and industries.

This is the main reason chaplaincy is highly needed in the industrial and business sector. A group of staff, motivated and focused on a task, make a real difference in the performance and profit making of any industry or business.

At times, the stress of life may make it difficult for staff in any business or industry not to be motivated and focus to task lost. This is the ups and downs of human beings. We may be able to leave behind us concerns about our homes and health, families and finances for a while to concentrate on work, but eventually they catch up with us.

Work and task on their own, can bring pressure and uncertainty and when it does; co-workers/colleagues no matter how supportive they may be, may have little time to help.

Before now, people were more attached to their faith community, where they could talk about their problems and concerns, this is less the situation now. Regularly committed or not, they missed the stability and support with the background and faith tradition offered. They missed someone to talk to, this why chaplaincy is needed in the industrial and business sector.

Chaplains have been present in hospitals, prisons, armed forces, educational institutions for many years. The community recognizes the value of the presence of those places where people are under particular pressure and chaplaincy is essential in each of them.

With the same purpose, chaplains come into industrial and business sector, they are people who knows what it is to be alongside others at the turning point of life (pain or joy), though they are not immune from problems but their trainings made them exceptionally unique to serve others as the wounded healer.

In Conclusion, Chaplains in Africa and Nigeria in particular, where are we on this page of chaplaincy profession and practice. The chaplains in developed nations of the world who we are proud of that made chaplaincy in this setting known, felt, desired, accepted and valued took the advantage of the opportunity before them, rose up, practice and never gave up until they were engendered by the industrial and business sector.

What is our own part in this part of the world, what do we need to do to make industrial and business sector of this great nation have a feel of the benefits in professional chaplaincy practice.

A clarion call! A clarion call!! A clarion call!!! “Who is ready? Who is available? Who is prepared? Who is adequately equipped?” Rise up now and take up this challenge to take professional chaplaincy on mission into this vast and large sector of the economy.

“Come over to this sector and help us, cries the community of industrial and business sector.”

God blessings, thank you all.

Chaplain Dr. Joy David-Mike SCC, CPC.

DMin. Chaplaincy Education.

Calls: 08035092416; WhatsApp: 09091981944