Collegiate sport chaplaincy: exploration of an emerging profession.

Abstract

Numerous collegiate athletic departments utilize the services of team chaplains, but little is known about who they are and what they do (Hastings, DelleMonache, Kelly, & Nazar, 2006; Waller, Dzikus, & Hardin, 2008). According to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) (2007b), these individuals are typically in unpaid, appointed positions that allow them to remain religiously neutral while serving administrators, coaches, and players. FCA (2007b) estimates that hundreds of chaplains serve in intercollegiate sports in the United States in a variety of ministries. In 2007, the organization listed 29 colleges and universities with full-time chaplains. A study on member institutions of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities found a total of 225 chaplains serving in athletic departments (Hastings, et al., 2006). Recently, concerns have been voiced regarding the involvement of sport chaplains at public colleges and universities related to the separation of church and state (Petition, 2007) as well as the qualifications of collegiate sport chaplains (Waller, et al., 2008).Currently, there is no single organization serving as a clearinghouse for training and credentialing sport chaplains in the United States. Leading national chaplaincy organizations do not recognize sport chaplaincy as a subdiscipline within the profession. Among such organizations are the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) and the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) (Waller, Dzikus & Hardin, 2008). The Association for Professional Chaplains (APC) only recently began to discuss the role of collegiate sport chaplains (Waller, Dzikus, & Hardin, 2010).Currently, little research exists on the work of collegiate sport chaplains. In regards to the role of chaplains in the integration of an institution's mission into its athletic department, a study by Hastings et al. (2006) was largely limited to finding the number of chaplains serving athletic departments at Catholic colleges and universities. Another study by Waller, Dzikus & Hardin (2008) was limited to a discussion of written materials (e.g., training manuals). It found that there appear to be no clearly defined qualifications and roles for collegiate sport chaplains.Further research on the qualifications of sport chaplains is critical, since the quality of training -will have a direct bearing on the quality of ministry (Conner, 2003, p. 23). Collegiate institutions, parachurch organizations and nonprofit faith-based organizations offer the training programs that do exist. However, at present, there are no organizations that establish criteria and competencies for certification as a collegiate sport chaplain in the United States (Waller, Dzikus & Hardin, 2008). The majority of persons practicing sport chaplaincy may be ordained within a religious denomination, may have some level of theological training, and even a seminary degree, but chaplains potentially perform duties other than providing spiritual guidance. It seems that area of training and credentialing is being neglected.Although it appears that coaches are the primary gatekeepers, a recent case at Iowa State University (ISU) suggests that university and athletic department administrators may become more involved in the appointment of sport chaplains (Geoffroy, 2007). In 2007, 96 ISU faculty members signed a petition protesting the proposed appointment of a sport chaplain (Petition, 2007; Waller, et al., 2008). The signees believed that the appointment of a sport chaplain would violate the establishment clause of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution, since ISU is a publicly funded university. The faculty also raised concerns regarding possible negative consequences for non-Christian athletes and Christian athletes, whose beliefs may differ from those of the chaplain. In June 2007, ISU President Gregory Geoffroy approved of a new volunteer Life Skills position for ISU's athletics program and issued a letter to Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard clarifying the expectations and responsibilities for the new unpaid position (Geoffroy, 2007), which was subsequently filled by the FCA chaplain who had originally been earmarked by football coach Gene Chizik (Aldritt, 2007; Waller, et al. …

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