The fourth iteration of the Global Congress on Sport and Christianity has been announced and will be held at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary, next summer. The dates have been announced for July 31 – August 2. The congress, which gathers every three years, was first held in York, England in 2016. The purpose of the congress is to bring together practitioners and academicians to critically think and dialogue about issues surrounding sport and faith.
I have had the privilege of attending and presenting at each of the congresses, thus far, and I am looking forward to the congress being a little bit closer to home this go around.
In 2016, I presented on the subject of “recapturing” the pastoral nature of chaplaincy in sport. My congress breakout session was small with about 10 people in attendance, but I was perhaps really encouraged by the published article, Foundations of Pastoral Care: Recovering the Spirit of Chaplaincy in Sport, which was in an accompanying journal, Practical Theology.
In 2019, I took part in two sessions. One was a joint session to a room of about 30 people and the subject was speaking about a biblical foundation for the chaplaincy story. The other session was a joint presentation with our, at the time, Counselor Brooke Ewert and the ‘necessary’ relationship between counseling and chaplaincy.
In 2022, I was a bit disappointed to present on the last day of the congress as most people were heading home or leaving the congress early. Just two other people in the room 😢, but I was still glad to present. In my session, I spoke about the issues of pay when it comes to chaplains in sport.
I am undecided at this point, whether I will present at this congress. Presenting takes a different toll emotionally and I might like to just take it all in after a busy few years with Soccer Chaplains United, but who knows?
As Soccer Chaplains United continues to grow, the global congress offers a moment and time for our chaplains to gather and to reflect and share — whether we critically engage academia, or share best practices, or simply gather and fellowship with like-minded people, I am looking forward to the time in Waco, Texas next summer.
It would be great to have some benefactors help myself and some of our chaplains get to Waco. Please reach out to me: brad@soccerchaplainsunited.org if you would like to help be part of this endeavor.
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