A Multi-Faith Higher Education Chaplaincy in Malawi

This chapter argues for the importance of a multi-faith chaplaincy in offering spiritual support to students in Malawi. This chapter is based on employed qualitative research methods, namely, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). Data for the study were thematically analysed, highlighting three key themes: the higher education context in Malawi; the significance of the provision of spiritual support services to university students and the role of a multi-faith chaplain in the 21st-century higher education context. The chapter establishes the following findings: (1) The changing dynamics in Malawi’s higher education context, including the multi-faith phenomena which reflect religion in a pluralistic society. Moreover, some students are professing to atheism through movements such as Secular Humanism in Malawi (SHM), while others are reverting to African traditional religions ( Chipembedzo cha makolo ). (2) There is an inevitability of a multi-faith higher education chaplaincy in Malawi because it promises to be a step forward for ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue and engagement. (3) The higher education context offers learning and growth opportunities concerning the comparative study of religion, cultural exchange, promotion of diversity, tolerance and co-existence in a pluralistic world. The chapter has implications regarding how chaplaincy needs to evolve to support a religiously pluralistic higher education context. This evolution includes the building of the community of human beings in a holistic manner ( ubunthu/umunthu ) and the development of knowledge, skills, values and ethos pertinent in pursuing the SDG 4.