Recruiting Clergy for Canadian Baptist Churches: A Typological Approach

Fawcett, Bruce

Ph.D. (2006), University of Wales

Acadia Divinity College is a small theological seminary serving the 550 Canadian Baptist churches located in the four Eastern-most provinces of Canada. Each year the entering class at this graduate-level seminary is less than two-dozen students. Some of these students head toward local church ministry after graduation and some of them do not. Generally, denominational officials report that they do not have enough able ministry candidates to place in churches.

Tidal Impact is one of several major youth programs sponsored by the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches, the Eastern-most regional denomination of Canadian Baptists. This youth short-term mission movement began with 69 participants in 1989 and grew to include 1,100 youth and leaders by 2002. The participating teenagers give up a week of their summer vacation and pay money to come and engage in Christian ministry.

The disconnect between these youth’s apparent interest in ministry involvement and their apparent lack of interest in vocational ministry is striking. Is it possible for Canadian Baptists to address their clergy shortage by constructing a strategy to recruit these youth to vocational ministry? This study was designed to explore this question. Using Jungian type theory as a new paradigm for clergy recruitment, this study explores a new model for Canadian Baptist clergy recruitment in the 21st century.

Chapter one explores the history and philosophy of the Tidal Impact mission tour movement. After examining the roots of the movement in the life and ministry of William Carey and following the movement’s roots through to the Canadian Baptist Overseas Mission Board and beyond, the chapter examines whether this movement is indeed a modern expression of Baptist commitment to mission and ministry and therefore an appropriate setting from which to recruit Canadian Baptist clergy.

Chapter two probes the world of North American graduate level theological education. Following a discussion of the Association of Theological Schools, the agency that accredits these schools, a profile of the institutional characteristics, enrolment, faculty and finances of these schools is presented. This portrait of these schools is important because it is to these schools that potential Canadian Baptist clergy are invited in order to prepare for vocational ministry.

Chapter three discusses how one becomes and maintains one’s status as a Canadian Baptist cleric. The chapter starts with a discussion of some Baptist theological beliefs relating to ordination and then examines Baptist polity relating to ordination and eligibility for ordination. Following a discussion of the meaning of ordination status and non-ordained vocational ministry, the chapter ends with an examination of the required steps to ordination and the maintaining of ordination status. This discussion is important because it describes the denominational framework for clerical vocations into which the Tidal Impact youth will be invited. It also clarifies the identity of a Canadian Baptist cleric thus allows a comparison of this group with the Tidal Impact youth later in the thesis.

Chapter four probes the theoretical foundations for the study. The chapter begins with a history of type theory and a description of the four Jungian functions, two orientations of energy and two attitudes toward the outside world. The chapter later explores type development and type dynamics followed by an explanation of the type table and a discussion of type theory and adolescents. This chapter lays the theoretical foundation for a comparison of the Canadian Baptist clergy with the Tidal Impact youth. It also provides a theoretic basis upon which to design a strategy for recruiting the Tidal Impact youth to clerical vocations.

Chapter five explores the typological identity of Canadian Baptist clergy. The chapter begins with a discussion of type and occupational groups and then explores the type preferences of various groups of clergy. The chapter ends with an analysis of the type preferences of Canadian Baptist male and female clergy, thus permitting a comparison with the Tidal Impact youth.

Chapter six discusses the design, administration and reaction to the questionnaire. The demographic profile of the youth is then presented. This profile will inform the recruitment strategy set out later in the thesis.

Chapter seven probes the typological identity of the Tidal Impact youth as determined by the Junior Francis Personality Type Scales. The reliability of the instrument is first discussed. This is followed by a discussion of the youths’ type preferences that are then compared and contrasted with those of Canadian Baptist clergy. This comparison will inform whether a new strategy for clergy recruitment will need to be developed.

Chapter eight explores the survey results pertaining to the Payne Index of Ministry Styles 2. The background, nature and reliability of the instrument are first probed. This is followed by a discussion of the survey data that are meant to demonstrate whether the Tidal Impact youth can imagine themselves being attracted to ministry tasks that are in keeping with their expressed typological preferences. The answer to this question will inform whether a recruitment strategy based, at least in part, on psychological type is reasonable and useful.

Chapter nine proposes a comprehensive program to recruit the Tidal Impact youth to clerical roles in Canadian Baptist life. A three-stage process is suggested that focuses on creating and renewing denominational structures to assist the youth from age 17 through their undergraduate years and then on to seminary.

Chapter ten summarizes the argument of this study and makes recommendations for further study.