Schedule and Course Overview

1. Introduction

The North American Maritime Ministry Association consists of more than 100 individual members and 50 affiliated agencies. The agencies deliver frontline welfare services to merchant seafarers in more than 50 ports in North America and the Caribbean. Among our members are the chaplains of the Houston International Seafarers' Center.  A key ecumenical group among NAMMA's membership is the Stella Maris, United States region.

The quality of care offered to seafarers is the Association's priority.  The training of our frontline providers ensures the achievement and maintenance of uniform standards of care among our members.  An understanding of the maritime industry and of the essentially ecumenical make-up of the pastoral care to seafarers is a cornerstone of NAMMA's ISWMM. The ISWMM is therefore not intended to substitute for individuals the training by their employing seafarers' centers or organizations. NAMMA's ISWMM facilitates a training environment for practical ecumenical and cross-cultural interaction on port ministry which individual societies would typically not be able to provide.

At the heart of our work is communication with seafarers. When our members pursue excellence in communicating with seafarers, they also provide great service. Throughout the years of giving maritime ministry training by the Houston chaplains, we have heard from students and increasingly seen that preparation in how to communicate with team members and seafarers is key for long-term success. Throughout this course, students will be introduced to topics that will allow them to communicate meaningfully with seafarers in order to serve them in a holistic manner.

As this course will be done both online and in class, participants must have the necessary motivation and organization to keep up.  However, we note that the participant's own style and his or her denominational and cultural background will play in an important role in shaping how this course will be experienced.  Though experts will guide us through the information, we expect to learn much from each other as well.  Further, we choose to do this course in 'hybrid' fashion so we can retain the essential experience of learning from each other face-to-face in the in class portion of the course.  

It is hoped that this Introduction, presented in the early stages of a career in seafarers' welfare, would encourage the retention of frontline welfare providers and that it would inform their entire life's work.  

2. Overall Course Objectives

• to provide a basic understanding of the maritime industry and introduction to seafarers' ministry

• to learn skills necessary to communicate meaningfully with seafarers

• to help participants deepen their commitment to seafarers' ministry and develop their professional and spiritual perspectives

3. Course Prerequisites and Expectations

• Participants should be lay or ordained, recently assigned and professional workers in seafarers' ministry. Participants must normally be endorsed by a NAMMA Member, Stella Maris regional director, or HISC chaplains committee.  All other registrants will be evaluated on a case-by-cases basis.

• Proficiency in English in reading and oral comprehension is essential.  Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

• High School/secondary school diploma or equivalent required.  Other higher education or vocational training an asset.  

• As a professional development course, the ISWMM expects students to be open to critical reflection and the possibility of change.   

• This is not a conference, but a training event. Participation in all topics by all participants is required.  

4. Method of Study

This Introduction works with several learning methods in online and in class environments. By letting people from different gender, different cultures and different denominational backgrounds meet, the Introduction creates a possibility for understanding critical subjects and a worldwide network:

• Lectures, given by experts on subjects related to lives of seafarers

• Reflection guided by experts on some important issues related to ministry

• Discussion with others in the group to explore a variety of views

• Role play and practice giving practical experience in facing situations

5. Topics

• Date                            Topic Title

The course will proceed by a series of topics presented online or in class.  Material will be added as the course progresses.

(anytime before Jan 18) - online - Maritime World: Ship Welfare Visitor Course online (separate registration required)

online - Lesson 1 (online) (maretraining.com)

online - Lesson 2 (online) (maretraining.com)

online - Lesson 3 (online) (maretraining.com)

February 23 - Sunday - 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. - Beginning of In-class schedule - orientation, worship, meal, and free time

Feb 24 - Monday - Mission and History of Maritime Ministry (Lecturer: Dr. Jason Zuidema (NAMMA)

Feb 24 - (to be confirmed) Monday - 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Maritime World: Visit to Seafarers' International Union Hall (including meeting with ITF Inspector)

Feb 25 - Tuesday - Practical and Pastoral Strategies for Maritime Ministry

Feb 26 - Wednesday - Maritime World and Communication Strategies for maritime ministries 

Feb 27 - Thursday - Seafarers’ Rights, MLC,2006 and Advocacy (Lecturer: Phil Schifflin (Center for Mariner Advocacy SCI, Director emeritus) (Lunchtime visit to Seamen's Church Institute Center for Mariner Eduction ship simulators (located next door to Houston International Seafarers' Center)

Feb 28 - Friday - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Communication and Capacity Building

(excursion to be confirmed) Feb 16 - Friday - p.m. - Maritime World: Tour Boat visit of Port Houston (Sam Houston tour boat)

Feb 28 - Friday - 5 p.m. - End of regular schedule

(optional) Mar 1-2 - Saturday and Sunday - morning and afternoon - ship visiting (in conjunction with Houston chaplains)

Mar 4 - online - Conclusion/Short Reflection Paper

6. Training Objectives

As a professional development course for those actively involved in maritime ministry, the course is designed to examine key issues in that work and better prepare individuals for effective service of seafarers.  

7. Measurable Objectives:

1. Increase the academic knowledge about relevant topics in the field

2. Increase of practical knowledge and skills

3. Raise awareness of the scope of the field of work

4. Establish a network

5. Enhance the professional counselling and social services for seafarers

6. Establish a reliable and knowledgeable human resource for seafarers that can address their needs and problems, both short and long term

8. Evaluation

For each topic students will have to engage with material, participate in online/in class discussion, complete quiz or brief written requirement. The course will end with a short take-home essay/exam.  The course is on a pass/fail basis, with the opportunity given for post-course additional work should work or life circumstances during the course inhibit course completion.

1. Participation in online/in class discussion.

2. Completion of quiz/brief written requirements.

3. Completion of final take-home essay/exam.

9. Expected Outcomes

Students will have acquired new skills and take home a "toolbox" on which they can rely when working with seafarers. They will be more self-assured in what they are doing which normally results in more effective ship visits and a more confident approach when seeking to provide welfare services. Through the course, students have learned to communicate with seafarers in such a way that they no longer become clients or objects of charity, but equals with whom one can share life.

10. Certification

Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive an official certificate endorsed by NAMMA and the international ecumenical association, ICMA.