I’ve been told over the years that thinking types aren’t good at pastoral care, that introverted types aren’t ideal for local church ministry, and that my strengths are in teaching, scholarship, and reformer roles. I’m an INTJ personality type with lots of years in the corporate world, so I am fully aware of the work that an I and a NT must do to be successful in social situations. I think that those with the innate ability to be social butterflies have a leg up in the elder track expectation and evaluation process, but that those who are stronger in other areas certainly can grow into the role. Several of the best pastors I know are NT folks, and they take care of the flock, so to speak, very well thank-you-very-much.
The clergy contains a lot of high F folks, a good thing I admit, though thus far I have not perceived that F folks are as keen on T folks as they are on more F folks coming down the pike. In my personal walk, I have some very T and very practical reasons for moving with slow deliberation through the seminary process. God waited a bunch of years for me to get to this point and a little longer in the process won’t hurt, I think. I feel that God doesn’t mind as long as I am moving in the right direction and not looking for opportunities to hide or run away. To a high F person, such deliberation can be seen as a lack of zeal -- why aren’t you on fire to quit your job and trust God to keep y’all in Kraft dinner?
God gave me talent and opportunity in the engineering world and I expect that God doesn’t mind me using this to full advantage for as long as I can. The church will still be there, though I also don’t want to be ridiculous with dragging it out.
The ministry needs both T and F folks, and none of us who want to be successful in ministry are ever all T or all F. God help us if we let someone through the process who has no ability to walk on the other side of their natural tendency to one or the other.
Now I’ve described some experiences I’ve had that make no sense from a T perspective. I’ve accepted them without much rationalization -- except maybe last time. I’m not sure rationalization helped me. The core of that experience was an acceptance that I bring my gifts and graces to the deacon vs. elder question and we’ll figure it out. I jumped to a decision, which is fine given the lack of imminent need to do anything with the decision, but I also began talking about it right away (so much for introversion). I might have protested too much, as the Bard of Avon says. After talking with more people and by letting a phrase said to me about my candidacy process (“don’t waver”) percolate over the past month, I’ve opened the door again to the possibility of elder track. I’ve made myself be aware of where I allow the F side to have sway (minority sway, but not in the extreme). I have noticed how I’ve reacted to events, articles, situations, and (as spectator) prayer concerns from the church where I am a member in interesting and unexpected ways.
I may be INTJ, but I think that maybe, just maybe, there’s room for an INTJ who is both cognizant of and open-hearted about the world and God’s people in the world. I need to explore the feeling/caring side of ministry in a more intentional way to assist me in discernment, and I hope to find the right ways to do this.
The deacon track is a noble and worthy cause, and I may go this way yet. I also may find in further reflection, mentoring and experiences that I am called to the “other” path in the UM world (ha ha). The important thing is to figure out where God needs me to be.
I’d like to particularly hear from T folks who have reconciled the T and F aspects of ministry. If you don’t want to comment publicly, please email me directly.
davidfirth1@mac.com
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