The concept of sports chaplaincy as the supervision of sports and its support by the church officials might seem as a homogenous concept, yet it is far from being uniform across countries. In their book, Parker et al. (2016) explain that sports chaplaincy comes in a wide range of forms, each representing a legitimate approach to supporting sport from a spiritual perspective. By providing a diverse perspective on the notion of sports chaplaincy, Parker et al. (2016) prove the importance of spiritual guidance in sports for athletes.
The global framework of sports chaplaincy typically implies the focus on individual spiritual development. As a result, a one-to-one framework are usually accepted in the U.S. and on the global scale, in general (Parker et al., 2016). The uniform approach allows introducing consistency and creates ample opportunities for building the so-called “pastoral safety net,” within which church members can cooperate in order to ensure that all team members receive the required support and are provided with the necessary spiritual guidance.
Focusing expressively on the UK, the second chapter outlines the key figures in the early development of sports chaplaincy. Specifically, the role that Rev. Mike Pusey and Rev. John Jackson played in the promotion of sports chaplaincy is explained briefly. Having created sports clubs and the related facilities, as well as multiple support groups, church officials played the part of leaders in building the spiritual support system for the players.
The use of the diverse perspective on the concept of sports chaplaincy allows Parker et al. (2016) to emphasize the significance of spiritual guidance in sports, culture and environment notwithstanding. As a result, both chapters, including the global overview and the focus on the U.S. framework, serve to make an important point.
References
Parker, A., Watson, N. J., & White, J. B. (Eds.). (2016). Sports chaplaincy: Trends, issues and debates. Routledge.