Guest post: sports chaplaincy

By Will Whitmore

I serve as the School Minister (our term for chaplain) at Mercersburg Academy, a coeducational, independent, secondary, boarding and day school located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. In this role I not only serve as the chaplain but also teach in our history and religion department. I am also a doctoral student at the University of Gloucestershire (UK). My dissertation, “Sports Chaplaincy in the National Football League (NFL) and the English Premier League (EPL): a cross-cultural study on the missional witness of chaplains in elite sports settings,” focuses on sports chaplains in two of the most influential and wealthy sporting competitions in the world. Sports chaplaincy continues to be a growing field, but academic writing on the topic has not grown at the same rate as the practical need among players; the majority of publications tend to be first-person accounts or news media articles on specific chaplains. My dissertation uses data from a cross-cultural study which featured eight chaplains in the NFL and EPL (four chaplains in each league). The study seeks to understand the roles chaplains fulfill within their host organizations and their theoretical understanding of the work. My research questions focus on specific roles and skills needed to complete this work, the expectations and access provided by host organizations, how chaplains’ work is evaluated by both their host organizations and sending bodies, and their missional and theological understanding of their work. 

My research suggests that sports chaplains in elite settings fulfill roles similar to chaplains working in other sectors of society. Chaplains prioritize pastoral care as well as fulfilling the duties of a Christian minister when needed. Fulfilling the duties of a Christian minister was more present in the work of NFL chaplains; in fact, this was often reported as being the main responsibility of these chaplains. However, chaplains in both leagues practice an incarnational model of ministry, emphasizing being present and serving the needs of all, regardless of religious affiliation. As volunteers, chaplains have few formal expectations or avenues for evaluation from their clubs. As a result, they feel their work is undervalued and overlooked and that they inhabit a marginal place within their organizations. While chaplains see this marginality as a negative, it also provides them the opportunity to serve during times of need. Underpinning all of their work is the chaplain’s commitment to their faith and their calling to this form of ministry. It is my hope that this study can be a useful foundation in both practical and academic circles, helping further support sports chaplains in the field and promoting more study on the subject. These areas for future research, more specific information on my research findings and discussion of sports chaplaincy in general will occur in a CIL webinar I am leading this July. I hope you all can join us for this to learn about the work of sports chaplains!