1 Professional Assessment Program The professional assessment (PA) program provides a systematic review of the student’s personal & professional gifts, potential, and development for ministry. The primary aim of this program is to assist the student in personal and professional growth for service in the Christian Church. ETS Catalog, p. 31.

2 Portfolio: PA Components Entry level: (1) autobiography, (2) Ministry Specialties Test (MST), and (3) Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Mid-level: competencies assessment and/or additions to portfolio (statement of faith, sermon, CE project, etc.). Anticipated Exit level: Senior Exit Interview.

3 Ministry Specialties Test Do preferences match ministry goals & interests? Seek to develop less preferred ministry functions or, at least, one’s appreciation of them. Descriptive, not prescriptive, use! No excuses!

4 Myers Briggs Type Indicator

5 Carl Jung ( ) Swiss psychiatrist Father was a Reformed Lutheran pastor Psychological Types (1923) Focuses on predictable and differing patterns of normal behavior Behavior due to differences in the way people prefer to use their minds

6 Jung’s Core Idea in Psychological Types When your mind is active, one of two mental activities is occurring: – Perceiving - taking in information – Judging - organizing that information & reaching conclusions

7 P vs. J PerceivingJudging S ensing i N tuition T hinking F eeling

8 Judging & Perceiving Occur in: The external world of people, things, and experiences - EXTRAVERSION AND The inner world of ideas, reflections, thoughts, and feelings - INTRAVERSION

9 Katharine Briggs & Isabel Briggs Myers Mother-daughter team who developed Jung’s types into the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Romans 12:4-8 Four categories, each with two sub- categories

10 Four Main Categories of MBTI 1 Where you prefer to focus your attention 2 How you take in information 3 How you make decisions 4 How you orient yourself to the outer world

11 Categories & Sub-Categories of MBTI 1 Where you prefer to focus your attention? Extraversion Introversion 2 How do you take in information? Sensing iNtuition 3 How do you make decisions? Thinking Feeling 4 How you orient yourself to the outer world? Judging Perceiving

12 The MBTI Sub-Categories (E)xtraversion (I)ntroversion E   I (S)ensing i(N)tuition S   N (T)hinking (F)eeling T   F (J)udging (P)erceiving J   P

13 Sub-Categories Defined (*) Focus Attention: – E xtraversion - direct & receive energy to/from outer world – I ntroversion - direct & receive energy to/from inner world Take in Data: – S ensing - data from the five senses – i N tuition - data from perception of meaning; gut-feeling Make Decisions: – T hinking - logical, objective, analytical approach – F eeling - value-centered, subjective (likes & dislikes) Orientation to Outer World: – J udging - live ordered, structured, planned lives – P erceiving - flexible, spontaneous orientation

14 A Word of Caution! Strength of preference does not imply excellence or competence!

15 MBTI Preferences ClergyU.S. Population Extraversion61%75% Introversion39%25% Sensing43%76% iNtuition57%24% Thinking32%50% (60 m/ 40 f) Feeling68%50% (40 m/ 60 f) Judging70%55% Perceiving30%45% –ENFJESTJ male ESFJ female

16 Male Protestant Clergy ISTJ 4.12 % ISFJ10.29 % INFJ10.22 % INTJ 4.25 % ISTP 0.55 % ISFP 2.26 % INFP 8.30 % INTP 1.37 % ESTP 0.48 % ESFP 2.88 % ENFP13.72 % ENTP 2.13 % ESTJ 4.66 % ESFJ13.24 % ENFJ15.98 % ENTJ 5.56 %

17 Using the MBTI Need to develop less preferred options for a more rounded approach. Awareness of stress & emergence of the “dark side” View people of differing types as resources; opposites can complement each other... –and get on each others nerves!

18 MBTI & Learning Styles What implications come to mind for you?

19 A Helpful MBTI-related Website Includes online assessment for temperament as well as descriptions of each

20 Suggested Books on MBTI Myers, Isabel Briggs with Peter B. Myers. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. Palo Alto, CA: Davies-Black, Keirsey, David & Marilyn Bates. Please Understand Me. Prometheus Nemesis, Oswald, Roy M. & Otto Kroeger. Personality Type & Religious Leadership. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1988; rpt

21 Temperaments If the second letter is “S,” then the next most important letter is J or P. –S >>> J or PSJ or SP If the second letter is “N,” then the next most important letter is T or F. –N >>> T or FNT or NF

22 Temperaments in Ministry

23 Temperaments in Ministry

24 Temperament Preferences ClergyU.S. Population NF41%12% SJ35%38% NT16%12% SP 8%38%

25 Professional Assessment Report In a one-page, single-spaced report: 1)Cite three significant learnings from your MST & MBTI interpretation experience 2)Cite three implications of your MB type for your specific work in ministry 3)Be sure to include your name & the date.