|PIC1|"The Organising Committee of the Rugby League World Cup told me that it believes that Chaplaincy is an essential service and that Rugby League needs to integrate Christian players more into the Rugby League world, especially those who are born-again Christians," commented Ken Clendenning.
Reverend Clendinning has been the Canterbury 'Bulldogs' Rugby League chaplain since 1993 and has professionally assisted the New South Wales Rugby League with their 'Welfare Program' by serving on their committee.
As the Director of Ministry Support and Development of the Baptist Churches of New South Wales (akin to a State's Archbishop), Reverend Clendinning is not new to leadership. He has fitted easily into his new role, which requires of him a very close working relationship with the Organising Committee.
"I've been able to place a chaplaincy program at every venue in a short time," Ken commented. "At many venues, for example at Townsville, the organisers made contact with the chaplain as a priority project."
Such is the importance the organsers see in chaplaincy, that they flew Reverend Ken Clendinning back to Sydney from Brisbane where he was holidaying, in order to speak at the Rugby League World Cup Managers' meeting, attended by both Team Managers and Ground Managers.
This was an important strategy, so that the whole Rugby League community could come 'on board' and understand the chaplaincy program, which involves it to function at both match and training venues across the nation.
The chaplaincy logistics are demanding in themselves, and need to be slotted smoothly into all the other complex aspects of hosting a World Cup.
"As well accrediting the Chaplains with the required passes for every venue, I have been requested to attend three or four corporate functions throughout the month-long Rugby League World Cup. This will inevitably help to spread the word of our progress, and bring greater focus on chaplaincy within the code," Reverend Clendinning explained.
There is one other feature of this remarkable chaplaincy ministry which Reverend Ken Clendinning has neither forgotten or minimized. He wrote to Mark Tronson who pioneered the Sports and Leisure Ministry (SLM).
For 18 years in the forefront of that ministry, including being chaplain of the Australian Cricket team, he negotiated chaplaincy appointments with all the major sporting codes in Australia including the Rugby League Clubs. In 2000 Mark and Delma Tronson established 'Well-Being Australia', a faith-funded ministry for athlete respite, although no longer with SLM, he retained and expanded his cricket ministry.
"Be encouraged that this is a further progression of the ministry you gave birth to here in Australia those many years ago," Reverend Ken Clendinning wrote to Mark Tronson.
To contact Reverend Ken Clendinning - 0421 289 917