Psychological type and psychological temperament of non-stipendiary Anglican clergy: appropriate to meet the needs of the twenty-first century?

ABSTRACT

Drawing on psychological type theory and temperament theory as operationalised by the Francis Psychological Type Scales, this study compares the profiles of 53 non-stipendiary clergy and 77 stipendiary clergy serving with the same Diocese of the Church of England. The data confirm significant differences between the two groups. The non-stipendiary clergy comprise a significantly higher proportion of sensing types (70% compared with 33%) and a significantly higher proportion of judging types (93% compared with 73%). In terms of temperament theory, these differences translate into a significantly higher proportion of the Guardian Temperament (66% compared with 31%). As the Church of England increasingly relies on self-supporting ministry, the implications of the changing psychological type and temperament of ordained leaders is discussed. Here is a leadership more inclined to conserve the status quo than to pioneer new initiatives and fresh expressions of church within a changing environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Clergy
• psychology of religion
• psychological type
• psychological temperament
• Francis Psychological Type Scales

Disclosure statement

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