Recent research within the psychology of religion and empirical theology has drawn attention to the theoretical and practical power of psychological type theory to illuminate and to facilitate the practice of Christian ministry. Building on this tradition, in the present study the psychological type preferences of 626 male Anglican clergy and 247 female Anglican clergy in England were assessed using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The purpose was to profile the personal and professional qualities of those engaged in Christian ministry within this specific context. Both male and female clergy revealed preferences for introversion over extraversion, intuition over sensing, feeling over thinking, and judging over perceiving. Points of similarity and difference between the current sample and the wider United Kingdom population are explored, as well as with Anglican congregations and other clergy in the United Kingdom. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of interpreting diversity, strengths, and potential weaknesses in ministry. The findings are valuable for practical theology in informing practices of selecting, training, deploying and supporting clergy. Questions can also be posed for theological construction, but that work is of another genre and will be done in future deliberations.

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This paper takes the burgeoning interest in Celtic Christianity as a key example of the way in which churches may be responding to the changing spiritual and religious landscape in the United Kingdom today and examines the power of psychological type theory to account for variation in the attitude of committed churchgoers to this innovation. Data provided by a sample of 248 Anglican clergy and lay church officers (who completed the Francis Psychological Type Scales together with the Attitude toward Celtic Christianity Scale) demonstrated that intuitive types, feeling types, and perceiving types reported a more positive attitude toward Celtic Christianity than sensing types, thinking types, and judging types. These findings are interpreted to analyse the appeal of Celtic Christianity and to suggest why some committed churchgoers may find this innovation less attractive. ______________________________________________________________________________ Celtic Christianity makes a positive contribution to the life of the Church .9587 Celtic Christianity has become important in my own spiritual journey .7161 Celtic Christianity helps the Church to exercise good pastoral care .5669 Celtic Christianity speaks with relevance to many concerns of the present age .6738 Embracing Celtic Christianity is a helpful way forward for the Church .7523 Celtic Christianity offers a good and Godly way of living .6978 Examples of the Celtic saints enable the Church to deal with the problems of our world .4572 Celtic Christianity brings the doctrine of the Church to life .6414 Insights from Celtic Christianity help me to worship God .7203 Celtic Christianity distracts the Church from its true purpose* .6821 Celtic Christianity helps me make sense of spirituality today .7039 Celtic Christianity helps me make sense of the doctrine of creation .6372 Celtic Christianity helps the Church to be open to the Holy Spirit .7188 Celtic Christianity helps me make sense of the doctrine of salvation .6228 Celtic Christianity helps me make sense of the doctrine of the Trinity .6865 Celtic Christianity helps me to know who I am as a Christian .6507 Celtic Christianity will help the Church to grow .6039 Celtic saints provide the Church with good models .4271 Celtic Christianity is a passing fad of the new age* .6136 Celtic Christianity enhances our view of God .7804 Celtic Christianity enhances the liturgy of the Church .7282 Celtic Christianity offers valuable resources for worship .7063 Celtic Christian prayers have no value for today"s Church* .5859 Celtic Christianity offers hope to today"s difficult society .6460 Celtic Christianity distorts the doctrine of salvation* .5719 Celtic Christianity affirms all people as made in God"s image .6488 Celtic Christianity brings peace and comfort in this stressful world .6254 Celtic Christianity leads to a wrong view of God* .7673 Celtic Christianity does not address the problem of suffering* .5445 Celtic Christianity helps Christians of different backgrounds to love one another .5264 Celtic Christianity is a for...