A theology of chaplaincy from below: changing the locus of theological agency

ABSTRACT

The article argues that a theology of chaplaincy needs to identify, analyse, and evaluate the theological reflection undertaken by their chaplaincy clients. Chaplains, when questioned about their theological ideas, usually speak briefly about notions such as a ‘ministry of presence’ or ‘incarnational ministry or theology’ to explain and justify their commitment to the welfare and pastoral care of their clients. In our research project, we interviewed chaplaincy clients discussing with them their theological ideas. And what became apparent was that in the seafaring context, it is not only chaplains who are theological agents; theology is also being produced by the seafarers. Previously seafarers have been a neglected presence in any discussion of a theology of chaplaincy, as, in fact, have other clients be they patients in hospitals, prisoners, school pupils, or university students. We identified and vocalised this client theology and in the second half of the article, we explore the implications for a ‘theology of chaplaincy’ of listening to and dialoguing with the theology produced by chaplaincy clients. This includes a discussion of how we conceive of the chaplaincy space and what ethical questions are raised when the clients’ theology is taken seriously.

KEYWORDS:

• Theology of chaplaincy
• seafarers
• popular theology
• port chaplains

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The project was entitled ‘Religion in multi-ethnic contexts: a multidisciplinary case study of global seafaring’ and was undertaken between June 2017 and December 2020. ESRC reference number: ES/N019423.

2 A full-time researcher from the team spent 89 days at sea as the project researcher on two different ships interviewing seafarers and undertaking non-participant observation.

3 For examples see Cartledge, Mark and Dawn Colley. 2001. “University Chaplaincy: A Question of Identity and Relevance.” Contact 135 (1): 29–37; Newitt, Mark. 2016. “Healthcare Chaplains Among the Virtues?” Practical Theology 9 (1): 16–28; Green, Rachelle R. 2022. “Ethnography as Critical Pedagogy: Prisons, Pedagogy, and Theological Education.” In The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Theology and Qualitative Research, edited by Pete Ward and Knut Tveitereid, 38–48. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell, 2022; Nuzum, Daniel, Sarah Meaney, Keelin O'Donoghue and Michael Jackson. 2017. “Stillbirth and Suffering in Ireland: A Theological Reflection from Healthcare Chaplaincy.” Practical Theology 10 (2): 187–200. The latter article is the closest to what is being proposed here.

4 Chaplain 1 interview, page 10.

5 Chaplain 3 interview, page 4.

6 Chaplain 9 interview, page 12.

7 See for example Chapman, Mark. ed. 2018. Hope in the Ecumenical Future. London: Palgrave Macmillan; Chapman, Mark and Vladimir Latinovic. eds. 2021. Changing the Church; transformations of Christian Belief, Practice and Life. London: Palgrave Macmillan; Bayfield, Tony. ed. 2017. Deep Calls to Deep: Transforming Conversations Between Jews and Christians. London: SCM; Wingate, Andrew, and Pernilla Myrelid. 2016. Why Interfaith? Stories, Reflections and Challenges from Recent Engagements in Northern Europe. London: DLT.

8 Ship2, seafarer 1.

9 Ship2, seafarer 1.

10 Ship2, seafarer 1.

11 Ship2, seafarer 1.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/N019423/1].

Notes on contributors

Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith is Professor of Public Theology at the University of Chichester.