Professional Misconduct of a Chaplain

Professional Misconduct of a Chaplain

Misconduct can be defined as:-

1.     That which deserves blame.

2.     Ill desort.

3.     A fault or vice.

4.     Wrong conduct, bad behavior as well as mismanagement.

5.     Bad or dishonest management.

6.     Activities that transpasses moral or civil law.

Professional misconduct on the part of any practicing chaplain in any part of the points raised or enumerated above is detrimental to chaplaincy profession and practice.

It is my intention to make all chaplains understand what can be called misconduct and how to run away from whatever can be called misconduct that will land them into trouble in the discharge of their professional chaplaincy duties.

Any chaplain that is found guilty of the above definition of misconduct in his/her practice may be sued, suspended or sanctioned. What is important for us as practicing chaplains is for us to render whatever chaplaincy services we are called upon to do in the most appropriate and acceptable manner, conduct and character.

Our behaviours, characters and the conduct with which we carry out our legitimate duties is something to be serious with.

A chaplain can be accused of professional misconduct if he/she contravene civil laws, moral laws, the professional ethics and standards in the discharge of his/her duties. Chaplains are regarded as epitome of morality, and we must therefore demonstrate and maintain high moral standards in our professional practice.

It is mandatory for us to behave well, conduct ourselves with dignity and show good morals in our day to day practice and service delivery.

Chap. Prof. David Mike

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professional Chaplains

Professional Chaplains

A profession is said to be a highly skilled work, or a job requiring high education and training. It is also a group of people engaged in a specialized work requiring high skills, training, education and knowledge.

Professionalism in any given profession requires specialized skill acquisition, high level of training and education which enhances competence, skill and proficiency on the part of the professionals in carrying out their duties, and rendering profitable services.

A professional is that person who has been adequately trained in a specialized type of work, that requires a high degree of education and competence in occupying the position made for such and performing the task and duties attached to such position or placement.

By every standard, professionals are expected to be highly trained and skilled people, responsible for performing the assigned  tasks  in the most appropriate, profitable and efficient manner to the admiration of people and colleagues,

These professionals always go about the performance of their assigned duties in the best acceptable professional ways and in accordance with their profession’s standards and ethics.

Professionals are by no means mediocre as they are educated to be on top of the situations, showcasing their competence and proficiency in the discharge of their duties and fulfilling their responsibilities in service delivery as specialists in their fields.

Professional Chaplains are clergies or clerics of any religion, who have been adequately trained, prepared and equipped to perform specialize chaplaincy service delivery to people in various sector of the economy.

Professional Chaplains are expected to be highly educated, trained and skilled to competently handle tasks assigned to them professionally. They are expected to be highly skillful in providing the needed solution to challenges and problems of humanity.

Professional chaplains are expected to take chaplaincy practice and services to every sector of the economy, as there are vacancies for them in all human endeavours to practice the chosen profession.

Professional chaplains should be responsible for the advancement of their profession and help bring about the needed improvement in the profession through their best practices.

Professional chaplains should champion the advocacy needed in the chaplaincy profession.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professionalism, Honesty and Integrity in Chaplaincy Practice

Professionalism, Honesty and Integrity in Chaplaincy Practice 

Professionalism can be defined as:-

1.     A high standard expected from a person who is well trained in a particular job or profession.

2.     Great skill and ability.

3.     The practice of using professionals in service delivery profession.

Honesty can be defined as: Quality of being honest and sincere in dealing with people in rendering services.

Integrity id defined as: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

Chaplains who by their trainings are expected to be highly skilled and qualified to render chaplaincy services, spiritual care and counseling. They must at all times be prepared to demonstrate professionalism in service delivery as required by their callings and specializations.

Chaplains are expected to demonstrate a high degree of morality and moral principles. They are expected to be sincere in serving humanity without any form of deception, falsehood and extortion of those they are called to serve.

One of the duties and responsibilities of chaplains all over the world, is to assist in reducing or eliminating pains in victims of circumstances. In the discharge of this duty, chaplains expected to be unbiased, transparent and not adding to their pains and injuries the victims had been exposed to; increasing pains and making the conditions of the victims worse is unethical practice in chaplaincy practice.

Chaplaincy are hereby called upon to be highly disciplined as professional service and spiritual care provider; making professionalism their watch word. Imbibing professionalism in practice will not only engender chaplains to the public and societies, but will also help promote the chaplaincy profession nationwide and globally.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Knowledge-Authorities in Chaplaincy Profession

Knowledge-Authorities in Chaplaincy Profession

1.     Knowledge-authorities in chaplaincy are leaders in chaplaincy profession who know what chaplaincy stands for and can defend it anywhere and at any point in time.

2.     Chaplaincy leaders who know what chaplaincy entails and are practicing chaplaincy professionally.

3.     Chaplaincy leaders who are not only knowledgeable and competent to practice chaplaincy professionally but are also teaching and leading others by example.

4.     Chaplaincy leaders of high integrity who by such qualities advancing the course of chaplaincy amongst the general public.

5.     Chaplaincy practioners who have been tested and can be trusted with live issues and people’s problems for proper handling.

6.     Chaplaincy leaders who care for the development of individual chaplains to offer actual chaplaincy practice professionally and competently to the general public.

7.     Chaplaincy leaders who are committed to advancing chaplaincy practice and service delivery to all and sundry irrespective of their differences, ethnicities and religions.

8.     Chaplaincy leaders who are resolutely committed to see chaplaincy professionalized in the continent of Africa and are prepared to pursue it to a logical conclusion.

9.     Chaplaincy leaders who by their qualities and beneficial services they offer can make the acceptance of chaplaincy profession and chaplains by the public easy and thus the needed public recognition attained.

10.                         These are actual chaplaincy leader of high educational standard who are prepared to move chaplaincy to the next level and status through their knowledge, competence, skills etc.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professional Advancement

Professional Advancement 

While we are still grappling with actual chaplaincy practice and personal presence of chaplains in various situations, tele-chaplains have emerged and operating presently in the developed nations of the world.

In this part of the world, Nigeria and the continent of Africa, we are still advocating and bleeding that chaplains embrace professional chaplaincy practice. There need to be a synergy between chaplains and various professionals, chaplaincy organization world over to advance our choice profession “Chaplaincy” and move on in the current development.

Chaplaincy profession has remained dynamically dynamic and has refused stagnation. Practicing chaplains all over the world are advancing on daily basis looking for ways to advance chaplaincy practice.

Let us join the pace-setter in the chaplaincy profession to advance chaplaincy practice and service delivery. We must learn to come out of the second fiddle syndrome. May God help us in this part of the world.

This current development and advancement in chaplaincy practice and service delivery is capable of keeping practicing professional chaplains on their toes; ensuring that they make their presence felt and their ministry of presence felt by the public.

The actual presence, especially the priestly presence of chaplains in many situations cannot be brushed aside.

It is interesting that this current development and advancement in chaplaincy practice came with it challenges and problems. What in your opinion are such challenges and problems?

Also this current development and advancement in the practice of chaplaincy has brought already with it some benefits and advantages, such as:-

1.     It makes the practice of chaplaincy real, and exposes fakes, quacks.

2.     It helps in the process of professionalization of chaplaincy profession.

3.     It showcases the right chaplaincy practice and exposes erroneous practices.

4.     It is capable of reaching more people at a time. By a single application, many clients’ needs are met

5.     It is capable of bringing along with it illumination that will enlighten the public and expose wrong doings which ignorant people have classified to be chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

6.     The current development has actually taken chaplaincy practice and service delivery to the next level.

We should all brace up for further advancement and development as chaplaincy is not static; not just an occupation but a profession.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs

Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Chaplaincy Profession

                                             Chaplaincy Profession 

Beloved professionals of this noble profession, there is much you need to know of the profession you belong to and work assiduously to engage in activities that project the profession.

1.     Chaplaincy profession is so versatile, encompassing and comprehensive and kind to accommodate all varieties of practice and services.

2.     Chaplaincy profession is all inclusive that various kinds of chaplaincy practice and service delivery has a place in the profession.

3.     Diversities and varieties of services available to various kinds of professionals in chaplaincy profession give the colour and beauty to our noble profession.

4.     Chaplaincy profession remains a unity and indivisible profession, however, variety of chaplaincy organizations and associations there are today in the world forms only part of the whole.

NB: Different chaplaincy organizations and associations are only part of the same thing: “Chaplaincy Profession.”

It is an error of judgment for any chaplaincy organization or association to claim to be chaplaincy profession while there is no crime in giving oneself to providing a specific service, we are to realize we all belong to the whole body.

The varieties and diversities found in chaplaincy profession gives the colouration and beauty which chaplaincy profession enjoys today. Some of these varieties that are found in chaplaincy profession are as follows:

1.     Human Chaplaincy:

i.        Health care chaplaincy (which include hospital, hospice, palliative and mental health).

ii.      Marriage/family chaplaincy.

iii.    Correctional chaplaincy.

iv.   Institution/education chaplaincy.

v.     Cruise chaplaincy.

vi.   Transport chaplaincy.

vii. Tourism and tour chaplaincy.

viii.  Oil and gas chaplaincy.

ix.       Agricultural chaplaincy.

Focusing attention on human beings and providing solutions to problems confronting the people in such sector of the economy.

2.     Animal Chaplaincy: Focusing attention on animals, their well beings as well as owners of such animals.

3.     Inanimate Chaplaincy: Focusing attention on other living things apart from humans and animals such as plants and crops.

4.     Eco or Nature Chaplaincy: Focusing attention on nature and ecology such as the earth, soil environment etc.

                                                    Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs
                                                   Certified Chaplaincy Educator

Professionalism

                                                    Professionalism

Just as professionalism has become the desired feat in all known professions of the world, professionalism has become our desired pursuit in the Association of Professional Chaplains in Nigeria and Continent of Africa in chaplaincy practice and service delivery.

We of APCIN are standing on this premises that competent professional practice and service delivery is capable of making us dignified and values added to chaplaincy profession; this is enough to announce us.

Cutting pf corners will meet with very stiff opposition as it is considered a disservice and destructive. 

                                                               Chap. Prof. Mike

                                                     Certified Chaplaincy Educator