Chaplain or Sports Chaplain First?: Why Identity Formation Should Matter to Sports Chaplains

Waller, Steven N.

doi:10.1080/1756073x.2016.1221643

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Mirroring broader models of chaplaincy provision (see Ryan 2015Ryan , 2018; Threlfall-Holmes 2011), 3 sports chaplains seek to provide spiritual and pastoral care to athletes and communities of 'all faiths and none' (i.e., players, coaches/managers, auxiliary staff) and may be called upon to deal with a range of issues that impact individual wellbeing (i.e., injury, career termination, bereavement, addiction), and/or if ordained, to officiate over religious services and ceremonies (i.e., weddings, funerals etc.) (see Heskins and Baker 2006;Waller 2016). 4 In many cases (though not all), sports chaplaincy provision is delivered on a volunteer basis and some have argued that this enables chaplains to maintain a greater sense of objectivity and distance from the organisations in which they work and from discussions with coaches and managers regarding athlete performance (Gamble et al 2013).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…In accordance with the work of Ryan (2018), we use the term 'pastoral care' here to denote a theological (as opposed to 'secular') approach to chaplaincy, which is characterized by a witnessing of God's love through service and servanthood. For broader discussion on the everyday work of sports chaplains and the constituent pastoral and theological elements of this role, see Gamble et al (2013); Kenney (2016), ; Roe and Parker (2016); Waller (2016); Waller and Cottom (2016);and Waller et al (2008and Waller et al ( , 2010. who believe in it often struggle to take research into the sociology of sport seriously.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Sports Chaplaincy, Theology and Social Theory Disrupting Performance-Based Identity in Elite Sporting Contexts

Jones

Parker²,

Daniels³

2020

Religions

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Existing literature on the work of sports chaplains has focused primarily on practitioner accounts of chaplaincy with elite athletes. While these narratives provide useful descriptions of personal experience and practical application, they are largely devoid of theoretical grounding. This paper seeks to address this imbalance by proposing the need for sports chaplains to have a more critical understanding of sport and its relational dynamics. We begin by problematizing some of the historical assumptions underpinning elite sport, especially in relation to identity formation. We then explore some of the moral dilemmas which may be experienced by Christian athletes who inhabit contemporary sporting contexts. In line with the work of established sociological scholars, we then move to a critical analysis of performance-based identity and how an understanding of sociological concepts and ideas might assist chaplains in their work with elite athletes. The paper concludes by identifying sports chaplains as key figures in the disruption of performance-based identity.

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Sports Chaplaincy, Theology and Social Theory Disrupting Performance-Based Identity in Elite Sporting Contexts

Jones

Parker²,

Daniels³

2020

Religions

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“…Gamble, Hill and Parker (2013) and Roe and Parker 19) study featured subjects in the EPL and the Championship, the second tier of English professional football. Theoretical and theological works on sports chaplaincy have tended to come in the form of journal articles (Hoven, 2016;Jones, Parker & Daniels, 2020;Kenney, 2016;Maranise, 2013c;Waller, 2016;Whitmore & Parker, 2020). A handful of chapters have been published on sports chaplaincy and its relationship to Catholicism, as well as a book stemming from the seminar in 2007 (Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 2006Vaticana, , 2008Maier, 2012).…”

Section: Academicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both research-based and theoretical literature on sports chaplaincy identifies pastoral and spiritual care as the two primary responsibilities of the role (Dzikus, Hardin & Waller, 2012;Ferrin, 2008;Gamble, Hill & Parker, 2013;Jones, Parker & Daniels, 2020;Kenney, 2016;King, Parker & Hemming, 2020;Linville, 2016;Maier, 2012;Maranise 2013cMaranise , 2016Mazza, 2008;Roe & Parker, 2016;Stewart, 2021;Waller, 2016;Waller & Cottom, 2016;Waller, Dzikus & Hardin, 2008. Kenney (2016) contends that the care of another is at the core of chaplaincy, connecting the work of the sports chaplain to others sectors of chaplaincy.…”

Section: Responsibilities Of the Sports Chaplainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As an emerging area of academic inquiry, sports chaplaincy is still a field in need of rigorous study. Indeed, within the subject area, there has been relatively little qualitative research (Dzikus, Hardin & Waller, 2012;Ferrin, 2008;Gamble et al, 2013;Roe & Parker, 2016;Waller, Dzikus & Hardin, 2008 or theoretical/theological writing (Hoven, 2016;Jones et al, 2020;Kenney, 2016;Maranise, 2013c;Waller, 2016Waller, , 2021Waller and Cottom, 2016) to date theoretical analysis but features few examples of empirical research findings. This study seeks to serve as some form of corrective in this respect by providing a theoretically informed account of sports chaplaincy in elite sports settings, comparing and contrasting the role of sports chaplains in the National Football League (NFL) and the English Premier League (EPL).…”

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Chaplaincy, Mission and Elite Sport: A Cross-National Study of the Work of Chaplains in the National Football League (NFL) And English Premier League (EPL).

Whitmore¹

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Background: Sports chaplaincy is an established form of chaplaincy and ministry. However, little research has been conducted on the work of sports chaplains. Of the completed research, none has compared sports chaplaincy in different countries. Aim and methods: The aim of the present study is to compare and contrast the role and function of sports chaplains within American football’s National Football League (NFL) and the English Premier League (EPL) by way of qualitative empirical investigation. The study sought to understand the roles and skills of the sports chaplain, the governance and safeguarding structures chaplain’s operate within, and the missiological approach to this form of ministry. To investigate these elements, a qualitive approach was utilized. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews, participant observations and e-mail. Eight chaplains, four from each league, participated in the study, as well as two para-church organization leaders, from the US and UK respectively. The results showed that sports chaplains fulfilled roles comparable to chaplains within other sectors of chaplaincy, such as offering pastoral care and spiritual support. However, their work was contextual, in that how their roles were utilized differed between host organizations. Overall, chaplains felt marginalized in their work, but this position also allowed chaplains to provide support during times of challenge. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that accountability and evaluation mechanisms for sports chaplains were not consistent and safeguarding mechanisms for NFL chaplains were nonexistent. Finally, chaplains consistently expressed a calling to this form of ministry and felt that their work was a witness to the love and message of Jesus Christ. Conclusions: In the high-pressure, results oriented industry of elite sports settings, sports chaplains witness to the love of God and affirm the value of the individual, regardless of their performance or on-field results. In this, they witness to the missio Dei present in elite sport.

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Chaplaincy and Scottish women’s football: sport, gender, and pastoral care

Fleming

Parker²

2022

Journal of Contemporary Religion

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Chaplain or Sports Chaplain First?: Why Identity Formation Should Matter to Sports Chaplains

Cited by 5 publications

References 17 publications

Sports Chaplaincy, Theology and Social Theory Disrupting Performance-Based Identity in Elite Sporting Contexts

Sports Chaplaincy, Theology and Social Theory Disrupting Performance-Based Identity in Elite Sporting Contexts

Chaplaincy, Mission and Elite Sport: A Cross-National Study of the Work of Chaplains in the National Football League (NFL) And English Premier League (EPL).

Chaplaincy and Scottish women’s football: sport, gender, and pastoral care

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