Psychological type and psychological temperament among Readers within the Church of England: a complementary ministry?

The Church of England's National Readers' Conference draws Readers from the dioceses and provides a window into the skills and aptitudes of those who are shaping that form of recognised lay ministry. This study draws on data provided by 59 male Readers and 96 female Readers attending the national conference in 2013 in order to profile the psychological type and psychological temperament of these lay ministers and to compare these profiles with data published in 2007 on 626 clergymen and 237 clergywomen serving in the Church of England. Readers are significantly more likely than clergy to prefer sensing and to prefer judging. The consequence is a much higher proportion of the SJ Epimethean temperament among Readers: 56% among male readers, compared with 31% among clergymen, and 60% among female readers, compared with 29% among clergywomen. The implications of these findings are discussed for the distinctive contribution made by Reader ministry.