CHAPLAINCY

The Institute for Community and Development Studies (ICDS) registered a Community Participating Dean programme with the national offices of the Council of Council of
Churches for Britain and Ireland in 1995/96.

This is mentioned at http://www.partnershipventure.com/vision/1.htm

The Apostolic Congress of Great Britain is applying the concept of community participating dean to provide chaplaincy for international university students in the UK.

Dr Nim David Njuguna, PhD, a Southern Baptist Minister, is piloting the chaplaincy on behalf of ACGB. He is working (at the moment) in a voluntary capacity, and focusing on international students from Africa.

Dr Njuguna describes his background and the pilot work in the following summary:

Nim David Njuguna PhD

At local Church setting

I am an ordained Southern Baptist (USA) Church minister. I am originally from Kenya (Africa). I am currently living and serving in a London metropolitan area. In my Church work, I serve as a community chaplain. That provides me with unique opportunities to serve people in a variety of contexts. Sometimes my role is that of preacher or pastor/counsellor. At other times I serve as a teacher and community worker, policy consultant or facilitator in situation of critical need.

My international student experience in the UK

I have personally been a college/university student in the UK. My learning institutions in the UK include Richmond Fellowship College, University of London, and South Bank University. My learning disciplines include theology, psychology, (of mental health and criminal behaviour), community development and social work practice. My PhD thesis looked at Racism, Black Marginality the Labour Party and the Church of England (1980's). I am currently Social Work Practice Tutor with the universities of Brunel and Middlesex in London. I am also teaching at an adult education centre, The Mary Ward Centre, where I also serve on the Board.

My wider field experiences

I have served (and continue to serve) in various field development capacities. For example, I have served as a community development consultant for one borough in London. I also serve on local and regional boards of YMCA.

Beyond London, I am currently serving as the Director of Cambridge Ethnic Forum, which is a voluntary organisation that provides support to ethnic communities in the city on issues including housing, employment, health, nationality and immigration, education, the criminal justices system and social welfare.

At the national level, I serve on the Board of England Standards Board for Community Development Work Training and Qualification. The Board offers a professional endorsement of community development work courses at all levels. This includes non-accredited courses and those leading to formal qualifications

In a wider European and global context, I have served a variety of not-for-profit organisations in England, Kenya, Scotland, Vienna, Germany, Sudan and Somaliland. For example, I have served as consultant/trainer in the people side of enterprise to organisations like Sudanese Women's Voice for Peace based in South Sudan and Nairobi, New Sudanese Council of Churches in Khartoum and for international Aid agencies whose headquarters are based in Nairobi. These included; UNEP, International Red Cross, CARE, Water AID, Intermediate Technology Development Group, Life and Peace Institute.

At social work/chaplain levels, I have worked with religious refugees in Vienna who left from the former Eastern Block as well as with mentally ill people in Glasgow. I have also taught Social Work students in London.

Understanding the place of African university students and a national chaplaincy

African university students in the UK are a vital part of the international community in the country. They consist of young individuals and young families, self-sponsored and government- or agency-sponsored, academic aspirants and professional aspirants, government workers and field development explorers.

The role of the National Chaplain to African University students in what are mainly predominantly white institutions is to serve the interests of African and non-Africans students.

This Chaplaincy can also dialogue with other college-based chaplains by providing cultural, social and political information about Africa and the African experience. College-based chaplains can link with this national chaplaincy to provide a powerful picture of the healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling power of religious faith. That can extend to maintaining an on-going dialogue, with an objective to build greater public respect for religious traditions - even those that are not necessarily the founding traditions of the college or related university.

Prayers

I welcome the opportunity to serve African university students as a National Chaplain, through the Apostolic Congress of Great Britain. I would appreciate the continuous prayer-support of Churches and people of good will.