Proselytizing a Negation of the Principles of Chaplaincy Profession

Proselytizing is prohibited in professional chaplaincy practice, why?

This is because the professional chaplains are expected to offer whatever services they have for the benefit and improvement of the conditions of people regardless of beliefs, cultures, religions, gender, sexual orientation, status in life and political leanings.

Professional chaplains are expected to offer services without cohesion, force, manipulation and brainwashing care recipients and people. The professional chaplains are expected to respect diversities of every individual.

Professional chaplains are expected to respect people’s cultural and religious differences without any form of discrimination and bias.

Case Study: The legendary founder of chaplaincy, St. Martin of Tort, was historically said to be a Roman Pagan soldier, his religious affiliation was paganism; while his profession was said to be military.

He was however converted as a Roman Catholic Bishop. He paid a visit to the Bishop for the interpretation of his dream. After his conversion and baptism, what particular chaplaincy fit or activity did he engage in?

Are you interested in professional chaplaincy training to enable you offer services beneficially, get registered to the prestigious chaplaincy institute – Prodam-J Chaplaincy Institute for adequate and proper professional chaplaincy education and training to make you outstanding among your equals? Call 08033072375; 07055287861 or WhatsApp – 09091981944

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST.

Certified Chaplaincy Education, Professor of Anthropology

17^th July, 2020

 

 

Professional Practice

Professional practice in its simplicity means, day to day activity of a professional in conducting or handling issues, problems or intervention in a professional manner. Professional practice is known to all professions in the world by their professional practioners. New entrant of the profession are required to practice under the supervision of qualified, chartered and certified professionals for a specific period of time.

In chaplaincy profession and practice, chaplains and graduating young chaplains are mandatorily required to undergo what is called “Supervised Evidence-based Practice” under qualified chaplaincy supervisor.

On this point we stand so as to enable us give professional supervision of high quality to trainee and practicing chaplains and also prepared them ahead of for supervision of others.

Prof. Mike-Jacobs is agog in offering professional supervision to interested chaplains.

Are you interested in online professional chaplaincy training to enable you offer beneficial chaplaincy care and services, get registered at the prestigious chaplaincy institute – Prodam-J Chaplaincy Institute for adequate and proper professional chaplaincy education and training to make you outstanding among your equals? Call 08033072375; 07055287861; 08035092416 or WhatsApp – 09091981944

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

10^th Oct, AD2020

 

 

 

Chaplaincy Development

Beloved practicing professional chaplains, greetings.

It is a known fact there is no profession known to us in the world that can develop itself. What is known and also generally accepted is that the practicing professionals of every profession are responsible for bringing developments to their choice profession. Practicing professional chaplains must take responsibilities for:

a.     Developing chaplaincy profession, practice and services.

b.     Advancing chaplaincy profession.

c.      Projecting chaplaincy profession, practice and service delivery.

d.     Promoting chaplaincy practice and service delivery in the public.

e.     Conducting or participating in researches that will bring new development and quality improvement to chaplaincy service and practice.

APCIN member chaplains must arise now to do the needful.

 

 

Chaplaincy has Grown Faster and Beyond what was known Century Ago

In less than one century of chaplaincy attaining a professional status all over the world, chaplaincy has grown so fast, and beyond what it was known to be before she attained professional status.

Chaplaincy therefore, demonstrated to be a dynamic profession requiring only dedicated, pragmatic and dynamic practicing professionals called “Chaplains” to take chaplaincy profession to the next level of development.

Before chaplaincy attained professional status in the year 1930AD, chaplaincy was more or less a ministry of the Church to the outside world. Chaplaincy which was purely an outreach of the Church to people and communities beyond the Church setting, has grown to become a multi-faith ministry of presence with following religions of our world participating in providing chaplaincy practice and service delivery to humanity.

1.     Roman Catholic.

2.     Protestants.

3.     Judaism.

4.     Islam.

5.     Hindu etc.

In contemporary times, therefore, chaplaincy has grown beyond a particular religion with all known religions of our world embracing chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

Chaplaincy has therefore, grown to serve humanity in a pluralistic setting with diverse kinds and types of people with diversities of needs and problems.

In the years past, chaplaincy practice and service delivery was limited to the military and some public institutions like schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and prisons.

However, with the kind of rapid growth and sophistication demonstrated by her since she attained a professional status, chaplaincy coast and areas of influence has become so enlarged that every sector of the economy is open to multi-faith chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

Permit me to show you what chaplaincy has become today providing multi-faith services and ministry of presence to all people of our world regardless of their religious affiliations, gender status, political leanings, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, culture, tribe and race.

1.     Chaplaincy has become a non-discriminatory profession, providing services to people, all people groups and age, communities and societies of our world, treating them all with the needed dignity.

2.     Chaplaincy has also become non-discriminatory in the sense that she is prepared to collaborate with all other known professions in bringing comfort and meaning for existence to people in all ages.

3.     Chaplaincy has become the most trusted problem-solving profession in our world – proffering the needed solutions to problems such as:-

a.     Emotional problems.

b.     Psychological problems.

c.      Relational problems.

d.     Marital problems.

e.     Workplace problems.

f.       Family problems.

g.     Industrial problems.

h.     Political problems.

i.        Social problems.

j.       Suicidal problems etc.

With this development and status of chaplaincy profession, it has become mandatory and compulsory for chaplains to acquire the needed training in this dimension to enable them function optimally; performing their professional duties creditably.

4.     Chaplaincy has become one of the most caring profession in our world, providing the needed care to numerous people especially in Health Care-delivery sector or hospital, offering such care as:-

a.     Spiritual care.

b.     Pastoral care.

c.      Palliative care.

d.     Pre-operative and post-operative care.

Chaplains who want to key into providing such care services are expected to be highly educated, with high professional training in that area to enable them perform alongside other professionals in the health care team. Such chaplains must be cross-trained, belonging to professional association.

5.     Chaplaincy has become a trusted profession, handling all forms of conflict in our world. Thus handling such conflict as:-

a.     Family conflict.

b.     Marital conflict.

c.      Inter-tribal conflict.

d.     Intra-tribal conflict.

e.     Workplace conflict.

f.       Regional or national conflict etc.

With the views of resolving conflicts amicably without resulting to court processes or war.

NB: I do not need to tell you that chaplains are needed for such assignments in our nation today, but where are such chaplains?

6.     Chaplaincy has become the most treasured and cherished market place profession in our world providing the following services in the oil rich communities of our world such as:-

a.     Ecological services.

b.     Environmental services.

c.      Services to nature and mother earth.

d.     Services to Black gold industry.

Bringing peace to various coastal communities. At a later date we shall be here with you to conduct a seminar on how you can provide these services mentioned above.

7.     Chaplaincy has made an in road into the maritime industry providing services and care for the followings in the industry:

a.     Seafarers (The forgotten people of our world).

b.     Maritime staff and management.

c.      Coastal communities.

d.     Travelers and visitors, using the seas for transportation and tourism purposes.

This is a specialized assignments, requiring well-groomed and educated chaplains to key into this unique opportunity.

8.     Chaplaincy has made her presence felt in public institutions such as:

a.     Nursery and primary schools.

b.     Secondary schools.

c.      Colleges of education and Polytechnics.

d.     Universities.

With practicing chaplains in the education sector called school chaplains, college chaplains, campus chaplains and university chaplains respectively. You can become one of such chaplains, if you are to develop yourself and obtain the needed academic and professional qualifications needed.

Correctional institutions and prisons are also part of the public institutions where qualified chaplains can be employed as staff chaplains and chaplaincy departments established in various prisons in our nation as obtained in other nations of the world.

In conclusion therefore, chaplaincy can be a rewarding and profitable venture, if done or conducted with the right concept and practiced in the most appropriate professional manner acceptable world over. Let us practice chaplaincy rightly to be able to take our rightful position in our nation, Nigeria. God bless you all!

Prepared by

Chaplain Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CPC, CBC, CCE.

Professor of Anthropology

19^th Oct, 2017AD

 

 

REPORT ON THE JUST CONCLUDED CHAPLAINCY/SPIRITUAL CARE WEEK HELD 23RD-29TH OF OCTOBER, 2022.

Introduction:

The long week Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Week Celebration 2022, came with a very timely theme: Relevance and Responsive in Times of Crisis.

Why do I say timely? It is so because of the prevailing crisis situation rocking the world currently. Most especially the flooding cases reported globally and particularly in about 12 states in Nigeria, where close to 250,000 people have been adversely affected. At the Global level, the war in Ukraine, has introduced another dimension to the economic downturn universally.

As such, the relevance and responsive nature of chaplaincy profession, is being stirred up in the process. The theme has come to re-evaluate the chaplains' activities in relation to the current development and possibly has challenged the status quo of chaplains to come alive to their core mandate of rendering care to the victims of these anomalies.

In Nigeria, the event kicked off on the 23rd of October and was anchored by the Association of Professional Chaplains Global. The president general of APC Inc. Global, Prof. David Mike-Jacobs, gave the opening charge. In his flag on speech, he appreciated God for another round of Chaplaincy Care Week and assured all his listeners of what they stand to benefit from this year's event. According to him, events outlined for the celebration in Nigeria include, special presentation by the 1st Five. The '1st Five' are the first 5 Board Certified chaplains in Nigeria and the Continent of Africa.

The presentations by BCC, opened up Tuesday 25th with Prof. Chap. Lawrence Nwatu, taking the first shot.

Addressing the central theme of this year's Chaplaincy Week: Relevance and Responsive in Times of Crisis, he in his congratulatory message reminded the professional chaplains that "we need to prove to this world and to assure ourselves the more that chaplaincy and professional chaplains still remain relevant and very responsive even in this time of different crisis. Among which is the ravaging flood.

Chaplaincy profession is very relevant in this prevailing circumstance he lamented. He further stated that Chaplaincy profession and professional chaplains are very relevant and comprehensively unique due to the uniqueness of the in-depth manner and precision with which they approach and carry out their professional practices and service delivery of care.

During the week Prof Dr. Joy David made her presentation on 26th October 2022 on same topic. However, she added a third dimension to the theme which she described as the 3rd "R". Third "R" rephrased the theme to read - Relevant, Responsible and Responsive to crisis. She defined responsibility to mean being answerable to somebody accountable to somebody for an action or for the successful carrying out of a duty. To her, being relevant and responsive in times of crisis for the chaplain, begins with having the needed knowledge.

Other factors that will enhance the chaplains' relevancy will include , education, training, realistic application of knowledge acquired by the chaplain, keeping oneself abreast of development around, events and happenings in the  world and chaplaincy profession and practice, the readiness and willingness to learn new things and the fact that the chaplain must make relevant his profession through preparation , equipping, training in her choice profession to know what needs to be known about crisis situation, effects and methods of handling such.

Next on line was chap Dr. Ayodej Olatunji, who did his presentation on the 27th October. He opened on the fact "that spiritual caregivers have always engaged in crisis situations either as an individual or collectively with other colleagues. Experiences accentuates the value they bring to an organization.

Chaplaincy has by its practices and services proved to be a calling unto a specialized ministry of care giving, counselling, problem solving, conflict resolution, victim assistance, crisis normalization, tension easing, home mending, hope building, chaplains and spiritual caregivers are relevant and very responsive throughout the whole world in times of crisis, he stated.

The last but not the least on the presentation came on the 29th October, by chap Amb Ndubuisi Chikezie, the Global Secretary General of APC Inc.

 

In his speech, he appreciated the United. Nation for allotting a whole week for the celebration of Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care Week Celebration as against a day given to most known other professions around the world. To him, this marks the uniqueness and relevancy of chaplaincy as a profession. According to him, this year's event makes it the 37th times it is celebrated by the world, whereas, in Nigeria, it is the 13th times since its inception in the year of the Lord, 2009. It was first celebrated in Nigeria in the city of Port Harcourt, under the leadership of Prof. David Mike-Jacobs.

Chap Ndubuisi gave an encompassing definition of the theme to mean: that Relevance and Responsive in Times of Crisis, lies in the fact and understanding for the need for chaplain caregivers to quickly answer to the call of a person in great danger and intense difficulty be it emotional, psychological, physical, social or spiritual crisis or danger.

The climax of the Chaplaincy week came via a panel of discussion held on Telegram platform and anchored by chap Adebayo. The panelists included: Prof David Mike-Jacobs and Prof A. A. Adams. But unfortunately, after Prof A.A Adams introduced his topic, he was called upon to attend to an emergency situation. However, Prof Mike took his turn to do justice to the motif of the event. Among other things, he showed particular interest to inform his listeners what relevance and responsive in times of crisis entails. It means:

1.    The promptness and immediate response from professional chaplains on issues and matters in crisis situation. This denotes the relevance and importance of such professionals in the society.

2.    Relevant response in crisis situation is an added value in practicing chaplains in crisis situations.

3.    Relevant and responsiveness in crisis situation is the hallmark of practicing chaplains in chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

4.    Professional chaplains have the mandate to be responsive in crisis situations to enhance their relevance in the society.

5.    The entire world and universe is waiting for professional chaplains to respond positively and promptly in crisis situation

He further categorized crisis into 4 classes:

1.    Mild crisis.

2.    Serious crisis

3.    Violent crisis

4.    War crisis

Challenging professional Chaplains, Prof. Mike, asserted, chaplains' relevance, importance and significance does not just come, it must be laboured for. Our prompt responsiveness to crisis actually determines our relevance as chaplains and spiritual care givers".

Conclusion: Of a truth, Relevance and Responsive in Times of Crisis, is very cardinal and sacrosanct for the professional chaplain. Facts gathered from all keynote speakers, showed that it is not even enough for the chaplain to respond to victims of crisis situations but that such must be done quickly and promptly when the situation is still redeemable.

Otherwise, if the help arrives late, it may be as good as not responding at all. Professional Chaplains are highly in demand particularly in the face of the crumbling walls of economic, social, financial and physical life of the present age. God help Chaplains to live up to this expectations.

See you all next year for another edition of Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care Week Celebration. Bravooo!

Report coming from the desk of APC Inc. Global Secretary General,

Chap Amb Ndubuisi Chikezie