The role of the Department of Chaplaincy is:
To provide Ecumenical Pastoral Services through ministering to the spiritual needs of the Midlands State University Community (Management and Administration, Faculty Staff, Non-teaching Staff, Students, and Families in accordance with the policies of the University Council, Vision and Strategic Plan of the University).
Vision
To be a God fearing Community in all our undertakings, that fosters the spiritual dimension of life that celebrates the diversity of God’s gifts within the University.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Chaplaincy is to support the vocation of the Midlands State University academic vision as enshrined in the strategic plan of 2019 to 2023 and also incorporated in the University prayer.
To provide a ministry of creative religious presence to the spiritual, moral and material needs of the University Community and the society through the provision of Pastoral Care and Counselling.
Core Values
The Department of Ecumenical Chaplaincy seeks to encourage, instills a spirit of self-worthiness, self- confidence among the students and staff guided by the values of:
- Love
- Trustworthiness
- Truthfulness
- Faith
- Hard work
- Teamwork
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Accountability
- Passion for Excellence
- Self-Discipline
- Respect for Others
- Gender Equality and Equity
- Inclusivity
- Inclusivity
- Self-sufficiency
- African Culture
To provide a Ministry of presence to the staff, students and families.
To focus on the promotion and coordination of spiritual and religious life activities. Chaplaincy is more than moral care; it is a wholesome caring of persons in need. It is a compassionate ministry to all.
To conduct and participate in University Community Church Services and special Ceremonies such as Graduation, burial and memorial services of students and staff.
To lead, coordinate, develops and empower the Chaplaincy team (student leaders of Campus Christian Association and Honorary Chaplains/Ministers from Churches), to ensure they have the motivation and skills to deliver the mission and ethos of the Chaplaincy Service.
To support the academic mission of the University by facilitating and encouraging initiatives concerned with the moral, ethical and spiritual dimensions of the University.
To assist individual staff and students experiencing personal, intellectual, social and spiritual dimensions of life for example, acute chronic illness or grief.
Being Public Relations Officer to churches and religious organizations on behalf of the University and the wider society.
To visit ill members of the University community in hospitals and homes.
Student Challenges prior to coming to University for the first time and/or during their course of study for four (4) to five (5) years.
- Psychological trauma
- Loss of parent or both parents.
- Delayed or suppressed grief
- Loss of parents’ property to relatives after death.
- Children dispatched and/or shared among relatives after parents’ death.
- Very little or no counselling at all to children.
- Lack of love to orphaned children to the extent that some have nowhere to go during vacation or holidays.
- Lack of or inadequate tuition fees, clothes or food at home or University. Some students in child headed families also take care of their siblings whom they fend for food and school fees etc.
- Lack of spiritual, moral, psycho-social and economic support.
- Lack of Laptop Computers/Smart phones and bundles.
The solutions are to address the above challenges: e.g. by means of:
Sourcing for funding to assist disadvantaged, vulnerable students from poor backgrounds to pay for tuition fees and other related financial needs.
To provide spiritual, psycho-social counselling, moral and economic support.
To administer the Student Funeral Fund through the University Student Funding Committee and several Scholarships sponsored by University Partners.
To Conduct training on leadership and behavior positive change towards the creation of better Midlands State University student culture. Unhu or Ubuntu was and continues to be highly cherished and treasured by society as it defines a person’s worth. The whole aim is to graduate an all rounded student (spiritual, physical, moral and intellectual being).
To work with students’ Christian groups in providing opportunity for personal and community enrichment/engagement, reaching out to encourage rural secondary/high school youths to pursue their education or skills for living. Carrying out evangelistic crusades outreach. Creating an atmosphere of religious tolerance and co-operation by encouraging understanding of cultural and religious diversity through interaction and discussions with both national and international students.
To manage and provide the general oversight on the use of the Chapel and its programmes through a University Chapel Management Committee and student sub-committees.
To certify staff and students’ documents.