Truett Seminary to Host the Global Congress on Sport and Christianity
WACO, Texas (December 16, 2024) — Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary is pleased to host the fourth Global Congress on Sport and Christianity (GCSC or the Congress) from July 31 to August 2, 2025. This international event, which began in 2016, serves as a unique gathering for individuals passionate about exploring the relationship between sports and Christianity. From scholars and coaches to pastors and sports ministers, GCSC provides a collaborative platform for meaningful dialogue and connection.
The Faith & Sports Institute (FSI) at Truett Seminary will serve as the primary host for the event, in collaboration with partners such as Sport.Faith.Life, Ridley Hall, the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies (CSKLS), the Sport and Religion Research Alliance, wired4sport, and others.
“As a R1 Christian university with a major athletic program, Baylor is ideally positioned to host the event,” said Paul E. Putz, PhD, director of the Faith & Sports Institute and organizer for the GCSC event. “Sports are one of the most significant cultural forces shaping modern life, and their impact extends into religious institutions, ideas, and spaces. This gathering will be a great opportunity to learn from a variety of perspectives and expert voices about the ways sports and Christianity have shaped one another—and transformed people and cultures around the world.”
Speakers at the gathering will include, among others, Sabrina Little, philosopher, professor, elite ultramarathon runner and author; Tracy Trothen, ethicist, professor, and author; Graham Daniels, former professional soccer player and general director of Christians in Sport; and Kevin Washington, director of player development for the University of Texas Football team.
A panel highlighting findings from the FSI and Baylor Athletics Preparing Champions project will include Juliana Smith, executive senior associate athletic director for mission impact and enrichment; Kenny Boyd, executive senior associate AD for student-athlete services; and Cori Bolts, senior associate athletics director for student-athlete success.
“The partnership between Baylor Athletics and FSI on initiatives like the Preparing Champions project allows us to continue to deepen our understanding of how to utilize sport as a tool for faith and character formation,” said Smith. “We’re excited for the opportunity to share this work with colleagues at the GCSC event.”
The Congress will also include a gathering for women in sports called Female Leadership Excellence (FLEX). Headlined by Aundi Kolber, therapist and author, this event will provide a community for women at the intersection of faith and sports, with the goal of giving and receiving resources and encouragement.
"We are delighted to be partnering with Baylor University in the hosting of the GCSC in 2025," stated Andrew Parker, PhD, professor of sports ministry, Ridley Hall, Cambridge, UK. "And we are very much looking forward to welcoming practitioners and academics from a range of geographies and faith backgrounds."
For more information, click here: https://truettseminary.baylor.edu/programs-centers/faith-sports-institute/global-congress-sport-and-christianity
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
ABOUT GEORGE W. TRUETT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
George W. Truett Theological Seminary is an orthodox, evangelical, multi-denominational school in the historic Baptist tradition embedded into Baylor, a Christian R1 University. Truett’s mission is to equip God-called people for gospel ministry in and alongside Christ’s Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist World Alliance, Truett Seminary provides theological education leading to the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Contextual Witness and Innovation, Master of Arts in Theology, Ecology and Food Justice, Master of Arts in Theology and Sports Studies (online), Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry, and PhD in Preaching. In addition to a number of distinctive programs, institutes, and centers, Truett Seminary also offers joint degrees through Baylor University school/college partnerships in social work, business, law, music, and education. Besides its flagship Baugh-Reynolds Campus in Waco, the Seminary also has locations in Houston and San Antonio. Visit the Truett Seminary website to learn more.