Profile of a Chaplain
- Introduction:
A Chaplain in the three security services has many roles to play to different stakeholders, all
endeavouring to impact positively on the life of their clients. Chaplains have a unique role to
play in providing pastoral care and related services to their clients. To this end therefore, the
AFM Chaplains are ordained pastors of the church. - The Chaplain as religious program manager:
A Chaplain acts as a religious program manager in ensuring that the client is afforded opportunity to practice his/her religion according to the prescripts of his/her own church/faith. This requires extensive knowledge of the standards and practices of the diverse range of faiths and denominations as well as a thorough understanding of the policies and procedures that govern the respective security services. - The Chaplain as a servant:
A Chaplain must embrace the Biblical principle of Servanthood and serve his/her clients with leadership, advice, and guidance as required by the specific circumstances. - The Chaplain as pastoral care giver:
A Chaplain shall render pastoral services upon request to his/her clients on an individual basis, without prejudice. - The Chaplain as a mediator & reconciler:
A Chaplain is also a peacemaker who when conflict arises must be willing and able to work towards bringing disputing parties together and settle contestation.