Towards a theology of sports chaplaincy

Abstract

Existing literature on the work of sports chaplains focuses primarily on practitioner accounts of chaplaincy within elite sports settings. While these narratives provide useful descriptions of personal experience and practical application, they are largely devoid of theological grounding. This paper seeks to address this imbalance by putting forward a theology of sports chaplaincy that emphasises the missional nature of this ministry. We begin by contextualising mission within the doctrine of the Trinity. We then move to an exploration of the incarnational nature of chaplaincy. In line with the work of established missiological scholars, the concept of missio Dei is located as one possible way of understanding the mission and role of the chaplain in post-Christendom in western industrial society. The paper concludes by identifying sports chaplains as key missiological agents within the context of both amateur and elite sport.

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