CHAPLAINCY: NOTION, TYPES, ACTIVITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD

Abstract

In recent times, many lay people have received professional training in chaplaincy and are now appointed as chaplains in schools, hospitals, universities, prisons and elsewhere to work alongside, or instead of, official members of the clergy. The concept of «generic», «multifaith», «secular» and/or «humanist» chaplaincy is also gaining increasing support, particularly within healthcare and educational settings.

School chaplains are a fixture in religious and, more recently, secular schools.

In religious schools the role of the chaplain tends to be educational and liturgical. In secular schools the role of the chaplain tends to be that of a mentor and a provider of pastoral care services. School chaplains can also liaise with external organisations providing support services for the school. Australian chaplains assist school communities to support the spiritual, social, and emotional well-being of their students. In Scotland the focus of school chaplaincy is on welfare and building positive relationships joining students on excursions and sharing meals. In Ireland chaplaincy takes a very different approach in which chaplains are expected to teach up to four hours of class instruction per week and are usually Catholic.

Law enforcement chaplains work with local, county, state, and federal law enforcement and provide a variety of services within the law enforcement community.

Military chaplains provide pastoral, spiritual and emotional support for service personnel, including the conduct of religious services at sea, on bases or in the field.

Environmental chaplaincy is an emerging field within chaplaincy.

Environmental chaplains provide spiritual care in a way that honours humanity's deep connection to the earth.

Prison chaplains have "a demanding and essential job, providing counselling to inmates, being an advocate for their rehabilitation and seeing to their spiritual needs." A domestic chaplain was a chaplain attached to a noble household in order to grant the family a degree of self-sufficiency in religion.

Some businesses, large or small, employ chaplains for their staff and/or clientele. Many hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospices employ chaplains to assist with the spiritual, religious, and emotional needs of patients, families and staff.

There are also chaplains to private clubs, television or radio stations, family, community teams, airports, cruise ships, nightclubs, and theatres.