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Sports Chaplaincy: Reflections on Being a Sports Chaplain

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Sports Chaplaincy: Reflections on Being a Sports Chaplain www.crucible.org.au 6:3 (November 2015) Sports Chaplaincy: Reflections on Being a Sports Chaplain Warren Crank1 Regional Consultant, Queensland Baptists Brisbane The Origin of Chaplaincy and its Relevance for Sports Chaplaincy Christian chaplaincy has its origins in the life and service of St Martin of Tours (316 – 397). After Martin joined the Roman army, legend has it that he cut off half his cape to clothe a naked beggar. Sometime later, Christ appeared to him in a dream wearing the half-cape given to the beggar. Martin was baptised soon after and began to reach the people around him with the love and gospel of Christ. What remained of Martin’s cape was preserved in a church which became known by the Latin name cappella. The term capellanus, from which we derive “chaplain,” was the title given to the priest whose special ministry it was to protect the cape.2 Later, the title “chaplain” was given to Christian ministers who once had charge of a chapel but were reassigned to special ministries outside the church. Many of these cappella served monarchs as advisers in matters both sacred and secular. More recently, the title “Chaplain” has been used for Christians serving God and people in a wide range of special ministries outside the church; including the armed forces, emergency services, schools, hospitals, prisons, embassies and sports clubs.3 In the arena of sports, chaplaincy is gaining stature. Over the last thirty years, Christians have been making a growing contribution in the world of sport, from local club level to professional sporting organisations.4 In keeping with the historic context of chaplaincy, this ministry predominately takes place outside the church. The locker rooms and playing fields of sports clubs are becoming increasingly accessible to chaplains. In the case of the National Rugby League, currently thirteen of the sixteen clubs have a chaplain. In recent years, this openness has been heightened by the growing percentage of Islander or Polynesian players across the NRL Competition. These players, it is often assumed, are Christians – or at least people with strong church links – and Chaplains are considered to be club representatives in spiritual matters for them. This specific, perceived need accompanies a general openness to care that is of a spiritual nature for all NRL players and staff. As Chaplain for the North Queensland Cowboys, I was expected to offer support both sacred and secular. I would help out wherever possible, in ways fitting to my skills. I filled a lot of water bottles! I would work cooperatively with all the club’s support staff. Indeed, in the exercise of my chaplaincy responsibilities I sometimes worked alongside the club’s Sports 1 Warren was the Chaplain of the North Queensland Cowboys NRL (2009 – 2014), and is currently chaplain for the Norths Devils QRL team and a registered member of Sports Chaplaincy Australia. 2 Michael Gladwin, Captains of the Soul (Newport: Big Sky Publishing, 2013), 23. 3 E. A. Livingstone, "Chaplain," in Oxford Concise Dictionary of the Christian Church (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000), 110. 4 Stephen Reid and Philip Hughes, "Christian Research Association Research Paper No. 13: The Values and Benefits of Sports Chaplaincy in Australia," (2013): 2. www.crucible.org.au 1 Crucible 6:3 (November 2015) ISSN: 1836-8794 Sports Chaplaincy Warren Crank Psychologist. This opened the way for conversations about life, sport and spirituality. Happily, I discovered that the club’s psychologist genuinely appreciated and valued the spiritual dimensions of elite athletes. Mark Nesti, a sports psychologist, has advocated that the spiritual dimensions should be considered as part of the discipline of sport psychology. He is promoting “an acceptance of the idea of a person as an embodied spiritual being.”5 Perhaps, within elite sports clubs, there is a growing recognition of spirituality and the way that it impacts on player performance. There is a correlation between the current practice of Sports Chaplaincy and the historic roots of chaplaincy - the ministry takes place outside the church and offers support in matters that might be considered sacred or secular. Sports Chaplaincy’s growth appears to coincide with a growing recognition of athletes as spiritual beings. An Approach to Sports Chaplaincy and its Theological Grounding The following is a personal reflection on my approach to sports chaplaincy and how it has been theologically grounded. I have distilled my methodology into the eight attitudes and approaches: Commissioned by God Holistic Ministry Ambassador for Christ Prepared to Share Hope Leverage Relationship for Good Anticipate Antagonism Intercede Continuously, and Incremental Progression toward Jesus. For me, the primary, guiding, biblical passage comes from 1 Peter. This letter is addressed to the scatted and pilgrim, pre-Christendom church. These early believers had no political power. They could not insist, but only invite. Their lives were to be oriented towards doing good to all, in Jesus’ name, and to be poised and prepared to share the reason for their Christian faith. The Apostle Peter wrote: Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1 Pet. 3:10-16). 5 Jim Parry et al., "Existential Psychology and Sport," in Sport and Spirituality: An Introduction, ed. Jim Parry, et al. (London: Routledge, 2007), 117. www.crucible.org.au 2 Crucible 6:3 (November 2015) ISSN: 1836-8794 Sports Chaplaincy Warren Crank In many ways, the pre-Christendom context is similar to our contemporary, post-Christian, chaplaincy setting. We are servants who cannot insist on anything, but hope and pray for opportunities to minister in Jesus’ name. Commissioned by God Joelle Kambamba, author of “The Chaplaincy Phenomena,” describes her foray into school chaplaincy as, “my response to God’s call.”6 She felt personally commissioned by God for this ministry. The Bible records many occasions of commissioning. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests and kings were set apart for special service (1 Sam. 3; 16:1-13). In the New Testament, apostles and missionaries were endorsed and deployed by way of ceremonies of spiritual significance (Acts 1:1-8; 13:1-3). For sports chaplains, there is usually no special ceremony initiating you into service. Nevertheless, it’s a sense of spiritual commissioning is what matters most. Over the course of my chaplaincy ministry to the North Queensland Cowboys, I often needed to remind myself of my calling to this role. This was because, particularly in the early days, the role of a chaplain was not understood or readily accepted. Indeed this appears to be a common experience. The Christian Research Association observed that sports chaplains are often dealing with acceptance, loneliness and “things can get tough at times.”7 In my first three seasons as chaplain for the North Queensland Cowboys, I was, to my knowledge, the only professing, practicing Christian at the club. Again, this is not uncommon.8 This exaggerates the challenges of acceptance and loneliness. Further, when I was approached by a player or staff member, the meeting and matter often needed to be confidential. Consequently and necessarily, the club was not always aware of my ministry. Only God knew. For reasons like these, one naval chaplain christened the Chaplaincy Branch of the Royal Australian Navy ‘the Silent Service.” This is the affectionate epithet for the submarine branch.9 The point is that chaplaincy work often goes on unseen. In my experience, a lot of sports chaplaincy work goes on below the surface. There is little or no recognition. The good news is that our Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward us (Matt. 6:4)! A sense of being spiritually commissioned sustained me in the early days when I was very much on the outer. In order to fortify my spirit, I created the following prayer which I’ve prayed regularly since. It encapsulates each element of my chaplaincy methodology, beginning with a recognition of my calling. 6 Joelle Kabamba, The Chaplaincy Phenomenon (Brisbane: Spencer Publishing), 2. 7 Reid and Hughes, "Christian Research Association Research Paper No. 13: The Values and Benefits of Sports Chaplaincy in Australia," 10. 8 Reid and Hughes, "Christian Research Association Research Paper No. 13: The Values and Benefits of Sports Chaplaincy in Australia," 8. 9 Rowan Strong, Chaplains in the Royal Australian Navy (Sydney: UNSW Press, 2012), vi. www.crucible.org.au 3 Crucible 6:3 (November 2015) ISSN: 1836-8794 Sports Chaplaincy Warren Crank The prayer goes: Heavenly Father, Today, I am commissioned to do good to the people around me. If someone has a need I can meet, enable me to see it and meet it. Help me be a credible ambassador for Christ who serves diligently and models integrity. May I always be prepared to share my faith and hope in simple, appropriate ways.
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