A strategy for improving chaplaincy services in Mbeya Adventist Secondary School, Southern Tanzania Union

Abstract

The observation indicates that there has never been a professional/trained chaplain at Mbeya Adventist Secondary School (MASS) since its inception in 2014. It seems that the Southern Highland Conference (SHC) assumes that a Pastor who has received theological training is qualified to be a school chaplain. Due to a lack of formal training in chaplaincy, the pastor performs typical pastoral duties, such as preaching, supervising the school worship schedule, serving as a member of the school discipline Committee, and organizing and supervising the school choir. The core chaplain responsibilities—providing spiritual and emotional care through the ministry of presence (journeying with students and staff through their problem), empathetic listening, counseling, managing crisis, and dealing with big events of human life like death and divorce remain unattended. Also, the lack of a trained chaplain at MASS seems to leave the school in crisis. Anecdotally, MASS students seem to be increasingly involved in risky behaviors such as truancy and sexual immorality. This case study project adopted a qualitative research design. Both the interview and focus group approaches were used. An in-depth interview was conducted to understand the current state of chaplaincy ministry at MASS; while a seminar was conducted to disseminate information regarding the core chaplain qualifications and responsibilities. A focus group approach was used to elicit information regarding the impact of the seminar and develop a strategy on ways to improve chaplaincy at MASS. The study population comprised of MASS board members, administration, school pastor, students’ leaders, and SHC officers. The overall outcome of the study showed the need to improve chaplaincy at MASS. The participants were of the view that SHC should hire professional a chaplain or the current school chaplain should undergo chaplaincy training to the necessary roles professionally, and that the SHC needs to hire a Pastor to deal with church programs and teach Bible knowledge to reduce the workload of the chaplain.