Chaplaincy Professional with End-of-Life Care Expertise

Location:

Dallas, TX

Posted:

February 11, 2026

Contact this candidate

Resume:

Sylvanus Africanus Chapman

**** ********* ****, ******* ***** 75041

Phone: 214-***-****

Email: **********@*****.***; ************@*****.***

PROFILE

Trained in theology and chaplaincy practice with proven and extensive pastoral and leadership experience; ordained elder and qualified Chaplain dedicated to offering skilled and compassionate pastoral care and emotional support to persons dealing with grief, bereavement, uncertainty, illness, serious illness/end-of-life issues. Knowledgeable about various faith traditions and beliefs with demonstrated ability to serve diverse persons with intentionality effectively. Adept at applying spirituality practically to challenges of life and the workplace. Ability to work collaboratively with hospital teams; hard working, motivated, purpose and goal oriented with good interpersonal as well as collaborative skills. Core values include integrity, accountability, emotional availability to listen, self-management, compassion, empathy, respect for others, and a non-judgmental approach to ministry.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Collaboration, working with Multidisciplinary Teams, Interpersonal skills, understanding and awareness of group processes

Pastoral care, Pastoral and spiritual counselling, and clinical ministry

Specialist Care for Palliative care Patients and families

Presence, Listening, Sensitivity to needs of others

End of Life Ministry, Decedent care, Grief/Loss Ministry

Crisis intervention

Experience in creating, facilitating and leading worship services

Cultural sensitivity and awareness, competency with ability to both serve and lead in multi-cultural and multi-religious environments, with understanding about various religious systems and beliefs; inter and multifaith communication

Experience in organizational management, conflict resolution

Excellence in both oral and written English

Productive even with minimum supervision

Proficiency in computer use and demonstrated ability to use software such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

August 2024 – Present: Chaplain at Methodist Charleston (In charge of Behavioral Health, Emergency and Neurosurgical Units)

Spiritual and Emotional Support: Spiritual and emotional support to patients, families, and care teams to people of all faiths and those of none.

Collaboration with Hospice: Collaboration with hospice care to provide compassionate support for patients, families, and the care team, facilitate peaceful transition, and provide grief assistance for families.

Decedent Care: Coordinate with funeral homes and the Dallas County Medical Examiner to support families in caring for the deceased. Ensure that the Medical Examiner is contacted when necessary and release decedents to funeral homes with the appropriate documentation.

Follow-up Actions: Workplace Violence Reports and Threat Assessments. Monitoring and addressing the findings from the "Workplace Violence" report and "Threat Assessments."

Program Development: Developed and implemented programs to address individual’s spiritual, emotional, and social needs; assisting with administrative tasks related to religious programming.

Religious and Spiritual Ceremonies: Conduct Memorial, Wedding, Communion, Baptism, Advent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday Services.

Effective Documentation: Documentation of care provided in line with organizational and professional standards.

September 2023- May 2024: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Intern/CPE First Unit (Extended).

Unit 1 CPE, learning the rudiments of professional chaplaincy practice

Practice of personal theological reflection as well as facilitating theological reflection for care recipients

Developing listening and conversation skills for effective chaplaincy ministry

Pastoral care and support for patients, their families and hospital staff

Working as part of multidisciplinary team to assess and attend to the needs of patients

Advance directives

Electronic medical record of pastoral visits, E-logging and other work-related communication.

October 2014 – Present: First United Methodist Church, Mesquite, Texas - Associate Pastor.

Providing pastoral leadership and empathic pastoral care as needed to members

Fulfilling duties and responsibilities as assigned by the senior pastor.

October 2014 – Present: Pastor, in charge of Ebenezer Fellowship, First United Methodist Church, Mesquite, Texas.

Founded this fellowship in December 2024, under the auspices of Senior Pastor David Weber (now retired) with the mission of the fellowship being “To Love God, love neighbor and serve the community”.

My leadership of the fellowship embraces all who will come, regardless of church affiliation.

1987 - 2013: Pastor/Executive Administrator, United Methodist Church, Sierra Leone.

Ordained and served as deacon in the United Methodist Church, Sierra Leone, in 1987

Ordained into the order of elders in 1989 serving in various leadership and administrative positions, including pioneering and pastoring new congregations.

Appointed in 2008, I was District Superintendent of the Western District (the Premier District) of the Conference.

2010 was appointed Director of the Office of Evangelism; served in this capacity until 2013 prior to relocating to the USA in 2014.

EDUCATION

May 2024 - Master of Arts in Ministry (MAM) – Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University (SMU) USA

December 2008 - Master of Arts in Education (MA) – Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, West Africa

May 2005 - Bachelor of Divinity (BD) – Africa University (AU) Zimbabwe.

May 2024 - Clinical Pastoral Education, Intern (Unit 1 CPE) UT southwestern Medical Center, Dallas Texas, USA.

August 2025 - Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE Residency), Units 2, 3, and 4 CPE – Methodist Health Systems USA.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

Presently a four (4) Units CPE Chaplain, working towards Board Certification (BCCI) with plans to submit application for board certification and interview by the APC-BCCI in June 2026.

HOBBIES:

Gardening,

Watching sports channels on the TV

Traveling to places

Singing

Reading Theology Books and Biblical literature

Listening to good music

Playing soccer

REFERENCES:

PERSONAL REFERENCE

1. Rev John Han

Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Mesquite, Texas.