Abstract
The article concerns school chaplains in Czech church schools. Drawing on interviews and non-participant field observations, I examine, through an applied thematic analysis, how the chaplains participate in the negotiation of the church school ethos with other important actors in everyday interactions.
This study argues that Czech school chaplains can be regarded as key actors in the process of negotiating and maintaining this ethos. Among various actors-students, founding churches, headteachers and pedagogues-they maintain an exceptional position as Christian spiritual leaders with, at the same time, neutral standing, and who enjoy the privilege of a somewhat vaguely defined role.
The chaplaincy here appears as a proto-profession without clear boundaries and built on both authenticity and the chaplains' personal spirituality.