Experiencing and Reflecting on Thinking and Feeling in Pastoral Care: Deploying Psychological Type Theory in Continuing Ministerial Formation

Abstract

Psychological type theory suggests that the two contrasting judging functions of thinking and feeling may be reflected in different approaches to and different practices of pastoral care. The present study describes an exercise designed to help clergy experience and explore these differences and observes and analyses the responses of two groups of clergy (curates and training incumbents) who participated in the exercise (N = 27, 15). The data commend the experience for wider application.

Keywords:

• psychological type
• pastoral care
• clergy
• continuing ministerial formation

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Greg Smith

Greg Smith is parish priest and training incumbent within the Diocese of Coventry, England, and a doctoral candidate within the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, University of Warwick, England.

Leslie J. Francis is Professor of Religions and Education and Director of the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, University of Warwick, England, and Canon Theologian at Bangor Cathedral, Wales.

Correspondence to: Leslie J. Francis, Warwick Religions & Education Research Unit, Centre for Education Studies, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. Email: [email protected]