How the Enneagram Shows Up in Ministry: Perspectives from Nine Young Clergy Women


Post Author: Alison VanBuskirk Philip


How the Enneagram Shows Up in Ministry:
Perspectives from Nine Young Clergy Women

Compiled and edited by Alison VanBuskirk Philip

If you spend much time in clergy circles, you’ve probably heard of the Enneagram, a model for understanding the variety of motivations and fears of the human psyche. Its popularity in Christian subculture is due in part to the work of Richard Rohr, Ian Cron, and Suzanne Stabile. Unlike other personality-typing systems, the Enneagram’s focus is less on behavior and more on the desires and motivations that compel behavior. It suggests that there are nine basic structures that the ego takes on to meet its needs. Each type has a core motivation and a core fear that result in particular mental and emotional patterns. As the Enneagram helps name and illuminate these patterns, we are able to make informed choices about how to live authentically. The awareness it brings allows us to access and develop our healthiest selves in order to share the gifts God has given us.

Many young clergy women have found the Enneagram to be a helpful tool in ministry and spiritual growth. One school of Enneagram tradition is called the Narrative Enneagram, pioneered by David Daniels, which bases its teachings on panels of people who share their experience of their type in their own words. In this spirit, we have invited nine young clergy women to share about how their type impacts their ministry and about the wisdom they have gleaned from applying the Enneagram to their experience in professional ministry.


Type 1, Karen Hernandez

How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

I excel at administrative details and keep things organized. My passion for justice is an important part of my ministry. My attention to detail is useful in many ways, from keeping physical space neat, clean, and welcoming to producing consistent marketing materials to creating worship in which all the elements are connected to attending to pastoral care details such as the anniversary of a death. My need for order means that I’m logical in my thinking, preaching, teaching, and planning, which often helps longtime church-goers understand connections that they may not have previously recognized.

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

Those with whom I work closely soon see my perfectionism and seem to assume that my high standards apply to them. I work hard to assure those with whom I work that while we need to get to a high-quality outcome, there are many ways to get there. My approach is not the only one. Because I tend to be quick with criticism, I am very intentional about voicing gratitude, recognizing the accomplishments of others, and at every opportunity praising those who have given of themselves.

To conclude, understanding that I am in the body triad is helpful to me. While my inner critic says that I should sit at the computer until the sermon is written, I know that taking a walk may be crucial to writing it. I seek to tend to my spirit in physical ways, too, whether by using prayer beads, walking a labyrinth, practicing breath prayers, or otherwise practicing spiritual disciplines in a physical way.

 

Type 2, Danielle Neff

How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

As a two, I see that I have a deep well of compassion and empathy for the world and most especially my parishioners. I cultivate connections with them and skillfully communicate support and care. I am generous and take true joy in being of service. These are positive qualities for ministry because our calling is one of servanthood. The shadow side to this is that I can overextend myself in offering support and find myself with compassion fatigue. Twos also run the risk of serving and caring for others so that others will find them indispensable. When assessing how I respond to others, I must be careful to respond authentically to people rather than out of a desire for them to like me and need me. Knowing my motives is critical to being a healthy two.

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

To be a healthy two requires acknowledging that you have needs and that it’s okay! Learn what your needs are and find healthy places to get those needs met. If we can do this, we are less likely to serve others in order to fulfill our own needs. Instead, we will serve when it is truly needed and appropriate. I feel it is important for twos to have a good therapist who understands the Enneagram. Therapy can help identify unhealthy patterns of behavior while also affirming the God-given gifts that twos offer, such as love, compassion, and connection.

 

Type 3, Sylvia Bull

How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

Being a three means that I am nimble and insightful and that I can quickly connect with all kinds of people, which makes me great at hospitality and welcome. I also see my three-style shine as I bring efficiency and general competence to the great variety of my day-to-day work. But being a three also makes it difficult to deal with failure in ministry, especially in areas where I’ve had a major leadership role. It’s hard not to take the failure personally. I worry about whether others will start to doubt my competence, and I begin to doubt myself. It’s also easy to have unrealistic expectations for other people if I’m using myself as the standard. Not everyone can work as quickly and efficiently as I can!

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

I think it’s easy for us threes to go it alone by imagining that we’ve got the corner on competence. One thing I’ve learned from a (not three!) colleague is to seek out the wisdom and input of others, especially mentors. I must do this intentionally, because it doesn’t come naturally to me. It has turned out to be not only a great source of learning but also of the encouragement, affirmation, and love I really need when the going gets tough. One thing I’m still trying to figure out is how to tend to my spiritual life without it becoming just another thing to achieve. I often struggle to simply be with God without having to do anything. I think being with God is the key to a healthy spiritual life, especially as a three, but it is pretty counter-intuitive for us.

 

Type 4, Anjie Woodworth

How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

As a four, I’m very comfortable entering into difficult spaces with people and seeing beauty even in the midst of brokenness. In fact, those are some of the most holy moments for me. So big feelings, complicated situations, and answers that aren’t easy don’t scare me. It is important to me to be true to who I am and to value the truth of who other people are as I live out the authenticity that is core to fours. This means I offer vulnerability in my preaching and care deeply about honoring the variety of perspectives in the congregation. A tougher side of being a four is the constant need for external affirmation and the tendency towards shame. It can be hard to manage this need in appropriate ways in ministry when there is often not a great deal feedback on things that are going well.

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

I think fours will thrive best in ministry when they have accountability partners or groups with whom to process. These need to be folks who will hold up mirrors and tell the truth—positive affirmation as well constructive critical feedback. The most important practice for me has been figuring out how to stay rooted in my own identity as a beloved child of God who is called to this work. What this looks like for me includes my accountability groups, several prayer practices (art prayer is a helpful practice for truly connecting with God), and a wonderful counselor who helps me stay rooted in self-worth. It is work for me to keep from hanging on to the one small critique. Sometimes I must refrain from turning someone’s neutral question into a critique. It takes a lot of focus and prayer to let those things go and separate them out from my personal worth.

 

Type 5, Jennie Chrien

How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

As a five on the Enneagram, I seek to understand the world deeply. I absorb and synthesize information across various areas of interest, from biblical history to video games to random trivia. This ability helps me when I’m preaching or teaching, as I have a depth of knowledge to draw on and can make connections to contemporary experiences and culture. I love learning and being able to share my understanding with others. On the negative side, being a five means I tend to withdraw into my own mental world. It sometimes takes an effort to get out of my own head and be fully present with people.

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

I think all pastors should lean on their strengths. If you are a five, embrace it! You have wisdom and a unique perspective to share with the world. When we’re at our best, fives move toward being like eights, confident and capable in our expertise. Though I’m always aware of how much I don’t know, there is an awful lot I do know, and my knowledge has an important place in my faith community and the wider world.


Type 6, Miriam Diephouse McMillan


How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

One of the gifts of being a six is that I’m reliable, which helps me build trust with both patients and staff at the hospital where I’m a chaplain. I show up when I say I will, and I’m willing to do the grunt work needed to keep things running smoothly. The dark side of this strength is my tendency to feel resentful if I sense others aren’t as committed as I am, so I have a hard time working with people who don’t follow through consistently.

Sixes are also known for always being prepared, which at times has led me into positions of leadership. While it feels good to be recognized for my commitment, I don’t enjoy being in charge. My sense of responsibility easily spirals into anxiety, and when I’m anxious I don’t trust my own instincts and want someone else to take the lead. I’m also not a great source of creative new ideas because my default is to stick with what is familiar.

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

Sixes can be full of contradictions, so what works for some of us may not work for others. Some of us respond to our fears by avoiding them, while others face them head on. I’ve found that taking calculated risks can be a great way to remind myself that I’m more capable than I think. Marking my successes also helps me learn to trust myself even when things don’t go as planned. When I do feel unsure, it has been a great gift to have friends who listen without telling me what to do. Spiritual practices that get me out of my head have also been a great source of growth. I’ve especially valued centering prayer, artistic expression, and yoga, all of which help me balance my thinking center with more emotion and physicality.

 

Type 7, Allie Scott

How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

Being a seven means that I approach the world—and my faith—as something to be celebrated, filled with boundless potential and wonderful miracles. I approach worship as a party, a time to sing and clap and enjoy the Spirit moving in our midst. Worship is rarely boring, often creative, and can throw off folks who live by what I call the seven deadly words, “But we’ve always done it that way!”

This sort of high-energy pastoring translates into the other realms of church administration too. I’m a big-picture, vision-casting pastor who likes to imagine and dream about what the Spirit is calling us to do in an area. I’ll chase after it before I’ve thought through all the details. If I do this in ways that go unchecked, I can end up exhausting my staff and congregation before we’ve even fully launched. My administrative assistant, bless her, nicknamed me “Firehose Allie” in my first month at my current call! Luckily, I usually am able to seek out other perspectives and balance to stop this from happening too often.

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

Seek out other perspectives and balance. Ask for other people’s opinions. They might not be as big or exciting as yours, and they might even feel depressing and like they’re punching down the newest, most exciting idea, but if you can appreciate others for the perspectives they bring, they’ll often help you flesh out the details you didn’t think about. Others also can help you be honest about a sustainable timeline and provide you with the depth you need to really thrive together.

Two practices are key to the days I pastor at my best. Spiritually, centering prayer helps me ground myself. While it took me quite some time to adjust to calming myself down (sit?!? in silence?!? why would I do that?!?), I knew it was something my heart was yearning for. When I am able to ground myself at the start of the day, it helps me be a little more intentional, pause before speaking, and trust that I’m following the Spirit rather my own energy-seeking inclinations in my pursuits. Practically, I’ve become a list-maker. Since my brain bounces from project to project, thought to thought, I’m often multi-tasking. Having a list to check things off ensures I’ve completed the projects I’m working on.


Type 8, Sara Nave Fisher

How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

My Enneagram style shows up positively because I am able to lead with confidence. I’m able to hear different perspectives, assess a situation, and cast a vision with steps of how to get there. Eights tend to be very protective and have a strong sense of justice, which shows up through my loyalty and dedication to my congregation.

On the other hand, I tend to struggle to connect with people emotionally when my focus is on a task that needs to be done. One Sunday I had been dealing with technology problems all morning at church, and when I saw a volunteer walk in the door, my first words to her were, “Don’t touch the computer!” Later it occurred to me that it would have been better if I had at least said “Good morning” first. At the time I was too focused to realize it. That is one small example, but it can manifest in the same way on a larger scale too.

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

Find ways to channel your energy into healthy and productive places. Sometimes we’re “too much” for people, and if we don’t pay attention to that, we can unintentionally cause harm. Instead of trying to dissipate your energy (which won’t work for us!), channel it, whether within your ministry or in other areas. This might be through exercise, new activities, or working for justice.

It’s also important to have a small group of very trusted friends who can call you out. I fully trust very few people, and that trust means I am open to hearing things from them I might not be able to hear from others. It is hard for an eight to be vulnerable, but having those few people in our lives is vital for ministry and life.

 

Type 9, Sarah Borgstrom Lee

How do you see your Enneagram style presenting in your ministry?

For me the gift of the nine in ministry is that when conflict arises, it’s easy for me to see past the challenging behavior to the concerns underneath. My inclination toward peacemaking and my general desire not to get too riled up have gifted me with a long fuse, so it is rare that I lose my temper or say something rash even in the most challenging church meetings.

The most challenging thing about being a nine in ministry is that I tend to procrastinate. This can take two forms. I will often procrastinate when I’m not sure how to proceed on a project and there’s not an apparent deadline in sight. It also happens when I know that I need to address a conflict.

What wisdom can you share with other pastors who share your number? What ideas or practices have helped you grow and thrive?

As a nine, I thrive on routine. I start my day with 30 minutes of reading or reflection. Then I look at the calendar, my weekly task list, and my long-term task list. I break my day down into 30-minute sections and decide which tasks to tackle in each time slot. I generally try to alternate easier, creative tasks with more challenging or tedious administrative tasks to give myself incentive to tackle the things that I would rather not do.

 

If this article inspires you to learn more about the Enneagram, we recommend you peruse the following resources to learn more:

Web:

The Enneagram Institute: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/

The Narrative Enneagram: https://www.enneagramworldwide.com/

The Enneagram in Business: https://theenneagraminbusiness.com/

 

Print:

The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

The Sacred Enneagram by Chris Heuertz

The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Riso and Russ Hudson


Alison pastors a small church in Bergen County, NJ. She and her husband Sajan are delighted parents to two preschool-aged girls. Before going to seminary, Alison served in communications roles for faith-based non-profits in New York City. In her free time, she brews kombucha, gardens, and studies the Enneagram.


0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *