Chaplain

Chaplains perform religious activities in secular institutions. They perform counselling services and provide spiritual and emotional support to the people in the institution, as well as cooperate with priests or other religious officials to support religious activities in the community.

The following job titles also refer to chaplain:

imam
university chaplain
lay representative
prison chaplain
hospital chaplain
rabbi
military chaplain

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as chaplain. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Chaplain is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to chaplain.

missionary
minister of religion
arts education officer
mediation and education manager
probation officer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of chaplain. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of chaplain with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of chaplain.

Psychological counselling methods: The various psychological counselling, training and coaching methods for persons of all ages, groups and organizations considering medical aspects.

These skills are necessary for the role of chaplain.

Provide social counselling: Assist and guide social service users to resolve personal, social or psychological problems and difficulties.
Interpret religious texts: Interpret the contents and messages of religious texts in order to develop spiritually and help others in their spiritual development, to apply the appropriate passages and messages during services and ceremonies, or for theological learning.
Provide charity services: Provide services for charity causes, or perform an independent activity related to community service, such as providing food and shelter, performing fundraising activities for charitable causes, gathering support for charity, and other charitable services.
Perform religious ceremonies: Perform the ritual acts and apply the traditional religious texts during ceremonial events, such as funerals, confirmation, baptism, birth rites and other religious ceremonies.
Provide spiritual counselling: Assist individuals and groups seeking guidance in their religious convictions, or support in their spiritual experience, so that they are affirmed and confident in their faith.
Show empathy: Show empathy in order to prevent any kind of symbolic violence and isolation and to guarantee a considerate attention to everyone. It should include a capacity to understand various verbal and non-verbal communication of sentiment and feeling.
Respond to enquiries: Respond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.
Observe confidentiality: Observe the set of rules establishing the nondisclosure of information except to another authorised person.
Reinforce positive behaviour: Reinforce positive behaviour in people during rehabilitation and counseling activities, to ensure that the person takes the necessary actions for positive results in a positive manner, so that they remain encouraged to continue their efforts and reach goals.
Promote religious activities: Promote events, attendance to religious services and ceremonies, and the participation in religious traditions and festivities in a community in order to enhance the role religion plays in that community.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of chaplain. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Quran: The content and interpretations of the religious book of Islam.
Vocal techniques: The various techniques for using your voice correctly without exhausting or damaging it when changing voice in tone and volume.
Bible texts: The content and interpretations of the bible texts, its different components, the different types of Bibles, and its history.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of chaplain. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Develop educational resources: Create and develop educational resources for visitors, school groups, families and special interest groups.
Perform fundraising activities: Perform activities which will raise funds for an organisation or campaign, such as speaking with the public, gathering funds during fundraising or other general events, and using online fundraising tools.
Perform church service: Perform the rites and traditions which are involved in a church service and leading communal worship, such as giving sermons, reading psalms and scriptures, singing hymns, performing eucharist, and other rites.
Assist missionary work: Assist in the tasks fulfilled by missionaries, such as improving health care, education, spiritual guidance, literacy, social justice, and other charitable tasks, in a specific area, in order to spread spiritual messages and also to provide aid where possible.
Communicate effectively in healthcare: Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.
Establish educational network: Establish a sustainable network of useful and productive educational partnerships to explore business opportunities and collaborations, as well as stay current about trends in education and topics relevant to the organisation. Networks should ideally be developed on a local, regional, national and international scale.
Develop educational activities: Develop speeches, activities and workshops in order to foster access and comprehension to the artistic creation processes. It can address a particular cultural and artistic event such as a show or an exhibition, or it can be related to a specific discipline (theatre, dance, drawing, music, photography etc.). Liaise with storytelles, craftspeople and artists.
Coordinate educational programmes: Plan and coordinate educational and public outreach programs such as workshops, tours, lectures and classes.
Memorise script: Memorise a set of lines or specific information in order to convey it correctly to a target audience.
Apply knowledge of human behaviour: Practice principles related to group behaviour, trends in society, and influence of societal dynamics.
Mentor individuals: Mentor individuals by providing emotional support, sharing experiences and giving advice to the individual to help them in their personal development, as well as adapting the support to the specific needs of the individual and heeding their requests and expectations.
Apply socially just working principles: Work in accordance with management and organisational principles and values focusing on human rights and social justice.
Manage fundraising activities: Initiate fundraising activities managing the place, teams involved, causes and budgets.
Teach religious texts: Teach the content and interpretation methods of religious texts in order to facilitate spiritual or theological learning.
Guide conversion: Guide individuals who wish to change their faith in the processes related to the conversion to a particular religion, in their religious development on their new religious path, and performing the conversion itself.
Support volunteers: Follow up volunteer activity.
Prepare religious services: Perform the necessary actions for the preparation of religious services and ceremonies, such as gathering the necessary props and materials, cleaning tools, writing and practicing sermons and other speeches, and other preparation activities.

2636 – Religious professionals

 

 

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References

1. Chaplain – ESCO