Brownwood News – Howard Payne University’s Dr. P. Graham Hatcher, professor of kinesiology, recently spoke at the second Global Congress on Sport and Christianity, held at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The five-day event drew hundreds of scholars and practitioners in the field of sport from around the world and included speakers such as Tim Tebow, professional athlete, sports analyst and author; Loretta Claiborne, recipient of 1996 Arthur Ashe Award for Courage; and Miroslav Volf, Henry B. Wright professor of systematic theology at Yale Divinity School and founding director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture.
Dr. Hatcher’s presentation, “‘So as the sett be thine:’ thinking Christianly about the nature of tennis,” explored the current game’s shared legacy with its medieval/Renaissance counterpart and how the essential rules of both can spark theological imagination and faith formation. In the presentation, Dr. Hatcher noted that philosophers, scientists, poets and theologians have all found tennis to be a useful resource in addressing much of their respective interests.
During the congress, Dr. Hatcher also participated in the 30th annual meeting of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, an international community of Christian scholars and professionals committed to excellence in kinesiology, leisure and sport through faith-integration, professional development, mentoring and fellowship.
“I’m grateful for the Faculty Development Fund and the administrative support that enabled me to attend this meeting and share my faith-centered scholarship with an international audience,” he said.
