Is the psychological type profile of stipendiary parochial clergy in the Church of England changing? Exploring data from 2020 to 2021

During 2020 and 2021, 591 clergymen and 486 clergywomen serving in stipendiary parochial ministry in the Church of England completed the Francis Psychological Type Scales. These data were compared with the profiles of 626 clergymen and 237 clergywomen published in 2007. Four significant differences were found between the two samples, with the more recent data showing among both clergymen and clergywomen higher levels of sensing, thinking, and judging, and a significant increase in the SJ temperament (31 to 42% among clergymen and 29 to 42% among clergywomen) with a consequent decline in the NF temperament. The implications of these changes are discussed for preferred styles of ministry.