Credentialing Sports Chaplains in the 21st Century

On Saturday June 23 I participated in a panel discussion titled: Credentialing Sports Chaplains in the 21st Century Matters: A Panel Discussion on Pathways to the Certification Mainstream at the annual conference of The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) in Schaumburg, Illinois. The session examined issues surrounding the certification of sport chaplains working at the amateur, collegiate, professional sport and Olympic levels. Current research has revealed that several organizations credential sport chaplains and that there is a wide variance in certification requirements. APC members are invited to participate in a dialogue with chaplains working at the collegiate, professional (NBA, NFL, NASCAR), and Olympic levels to discuss the implications of certification. Representatives from the United States Council for Sports Chaplaincy, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Sports Ministry Program - Truett Seminary at Baylor University and the International Sports Professionals Association will also participate in the conversation.

Participant Goals:

1. Elaborate on how sport chaplains support players, coaches and families with their ministries.

2. Compare and contrast the certification requirements of one alternative credentialing organization against those of APC.

3. Discuss the implications of sport chaplains remaining uncredentialed and working as professional chaplains.

 

Participants in the discussion were:

Moderator:

• Steven Waller Ph.D., D.Min.

Associate Professor

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

Panelists:

• Roger Lipe

Chaplain Southern Illinois University Athletics

Southern Illinois FCA

 

• John B. White, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Practical Theology

Director of Sports Ministry Program

George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University

 

• Madeline Mims

Chaplain, Tulsa Shock, WNBA

Executive Director - United States Council for Sports Chaplaincy

 

• John Mayer

Executive Director

International Sports Professionals Association

 

• Rev. Dr. Harold Cottom III, D. Min.

Daytonview Church of the Nazarene

Dayton, Ohio

 

The discussion was lively with some opening remarks from each of the panelists regarding the present landscape of sports chaplaincy in the USA and some of the issues which both illustrate the need for a standard of service which should be required of sport chaplains, training and certification or credentialing. It seems that the world of sports chaplaincy is very similar to what was happening with hospital chaplains forty years ago. Those who joined the panelists for this discussion were very helpful in that they had experience with chaplaincy in hospitals, prisons and the military. We found several points of commonality with their service, but we were quick to describe the situations which are unique to the world of sport. Everyone left with a sense of movement. The people in the room, some who represented major USA sports ministries and others from academia and still others from the APC, left the discussion with a greater sense of unity than before and the sense that if we were to collaborate well, we could form a set of standards which would lead to certification of sport chaplains in a way that would find acceptance and even endorsement from sports organizing bodies at the highest levels in USAmerica.

 

Each panelist spoke of his or her personal experiences as a sports chaplain, the process of training they received for serving in this role and the need for an established code of requirements for those who will carry this title in the future.

 

I spoke briefly of the model employed by our colleagues in Australia. Sports Chaplaincy Australia http://www.sportschaplaincy.com.au/ has done a phenomenal job of developing sports chaplaincy across the continent through training, certification, continuing education, networking and mentoring. Their model may be one which we should examine for ideas and wisdom as we progress.

 

A significant challenge to this movement will be to get the buy in of the USA’s largest and most influential sports ministries. Most of the sports chaplains in the nation’s schools are affiliated with either the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or Athletes in Action. Beyond the campuses are those who serve through Baseball Chapel, Motor Racing Outreach, Hockey Ministries International, Christian Surfers International and more. The challenge will be to get all these organizations to buy into a system of training, certification and/or credentialing which bears a brand name besides their own. I believe that a unified effort which leads to a universal set of principles and best practices can be of tremendous value to all concerned and even more importantly, can lead to wider and deeper service of the men and women, boys and girls of the USA sports community. Please join me in praying that this can be accomplished, whether quickly or slowly.