Chaplaincy: What Chaplaincy is, who are Chaplains and Roles of Chaplains in the Society

Preamble: To many people, especially in developing nations of the world, chaplaincy means different things to different people. There is also no definite definition of who chaplains are and what their roles are in the society are leading to an unprecedented confusion amongst the people in this part of the world.

This informs the writing of this article: Definition of what chaplaincy is; who chaplains are and what roles chaplains play in various societies where they can be found. Also an attempt to provoke others to write on these three important question people keep on asking.

Permit me to commence the writing of this unique article with chaplaincy and the definition of what chaplaincy is in contemporary times as you will find below:-

Defining Chaplaincy in Contemporary Times:

1.     Chaplaincy remains a calling; a profession, a vocation and occupation.

2.     Chaplaincy is service to God or Divine through serving humanity without discrimination.

3.     Chaplaincy is an industry; though not a manufacturing concern, but a service industry that is designed to see to the wholistic well-being of humans and to ensure people’s wellness in all situations.

4.     Chaplaincy provides services to those who are experiencing religious, spiritual or existential struggles in life.

5.     Chaplaincy is a service that help people remember who they are and who they are not in their circumstance, pains and sufferings.

Who Chaplains Are:

1.     Chaplains are truly clergies and graduates of seminaries who have either been equipped to perform chaplaincy works and duties outside the walls of the their religions and congregation.

2.     Chaplains are trained and certified professional chaplaincy practitioners who have passed through clinical chaplaincy professional education study programme with CCPE or CPE Units earned for various levels of certifications.

3.     Chaplains are certified professionals endorsed by their faith groups or religious leaders to take chaplaincy services to specialized settings and secular world.

4.     Chaplains are certified professionals who integrate pre-modern chaplaincy practices, modern chaplaincy practices and services and post-modern chaplaincy services and practice in providing wholistic care to care recipients and their relations without discrimination and bias.

5.     Chaplains are certified professionals who have the responsibilities of making various decisions as people of their own minds and also taking responsibility for their actions.

Roles of Chaplains in the Society:

Chaplains’ roles vary according to the types of chaplaincy setting, the type of chaplains they are and the situations they find themselves. To give a generalized roles of chaplains will lead to greater confusion. To avoid this, I will entreat you all to be on the lookout for a book from the writer of this article on the roles of chaplains in various positions of responsibilities.

Thank you for waiting patiently and praying for it.  That notwithstanding, permit me to enumerate some roles of chaplains which in my own opinion can be said to be common to whatever situations chaplains find themselves:

1.     Providing wholistic care services to care recipients in whatever situations.

2.     Giving prompt response and attention to people I all situations, most especially in crisis situations.

3.     Helping to provide needed solutions to knotty problems confronting humanity.

4.     Helping to resuscitate declining societal systems.

5.     Ensuring peaceful co-existence amongst people in various diversities in the society.

6.     Providing psycho-spiritual care and support for people who desire such.

In conclusion, I expect that this article will trigger many people to speak up on this subject matter, making their views known for the needed cross-fertilization of ideas.

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

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

7^th Nov. AD2022