The Enneagram Goes to Church

If I had known the Enneagram earlier in my ministry, I would have been a much better pastor.

When this thought came to Todd Wilson, he had already served as a pastor in several churches for the better part of fifteen years and was successfully leading a large, historic, and diverse congregation. He'd started out in ministry with a strong education in everything from biblical exegesis and homiletics to organizational development and Christian education. However, at its root, pastoral ministry is about shepherding, serving, leading, and loving people, and Todd realized that what he lacked was wisdom about how people work. He says, "When it came to empathetically shepherding people and sensitively engaging their manifold personalities and diverse ways of seeing the world, I was an amateur."

Whether you are on a church staff or leading a small group, you will find that the insights from the Enneagram that have helped many grow in self-awareness can be applied to life in our faith communities. The Enneagram can help us to become better teachers. It can influence how we develop worship and Christian education. And it can guide us in building and leading teams.

It's time to take the Enneagram to church—and to allow it to shape our life together.



Todd Wilson is the president and cofounder of the Center for Pastor Theologians and the former senior pastor of Calvary Memorial Church. He holds a PhD from University of Cambridge and is the author of Mere Sexuality and Real Christian, as well as coauthor of The Pastor Theologian. He and his family live in Oak Park, Illinois.

Introduction: Pastoring is About People


1. All Truth is God's Truth: Transposing the Enneagram into a Christian Key


2. Three Ways of Navigating Life: Thinking, Feeling, and Doing


3. Shepherding the Sheep: Nine Ways of Being a Pastor


4. Leadership: The Art of Awareness


5. Preaching: Truth Through Personality


6. Worship: Whenever Nine are Gathered in My Name


7. Congregational Care: Lending Yourself to the Way of Others


8. Teamwork: It's Always Personal(ity)


9. Churches: They're Like Families


Conclusion: You Cannot Give What You Do Not Have


Acknowledgments


Notes

"The Enneagram Goes to Church will help pastors and ministry leaders grow in their preaching and teaching, oversight of worship, pastoral care, leadership, management of staff, understanding of institutional health, and more. For those already sold on the Enneagram, this book will enrich their understanding and help them relate the Enneagram to church life. For those who are new to the Enneagram, this book will be a fascinating journey of discovery. For those who are skeptical but willing to give the Enneagram a chance, this book may surprise them by highlighting just how helpful a tool it can be. A fascinating and useful book! Highly recommended!"



"When I encountered the Enneagram tool, my response was identical to Todd Wilson's—I wished I'd had this years ago when I led a team at church! These days I use the Enneagram in all my coaching relationships. Todd does an excellent job exploring how the Enneagram can practically make a profound difference in our self-awareness and in our everyday leadership. This book is a tremendous tool to bring the Enneagram to your church!"



"As Christians, we can sometimes pursue truth without also pursuing transformation. Without a doubt, the Enneagram has helped me attend to this gap and learn to apply the gospel to my own particular heart. It has become a tool for mortifying besetting sins, for mending broken relationships, and even for discovering my unique giftedness. For those who remain dubious about the Enneagram—its origins, its misuse—Todd Wilson is a theologically reliable guide. His heart is wisely pastoral, helping readers see the value of self-knowledge for the glorious purpose of self-giving."



"More Christians are aware of and interested in the Enneagram than ever before, so it's time for the church to take notice. Todd Wilson provides a winsome and engaging exploration of how church leaders and church members can use the Enneagram to foster spiritual growth. Todd writes from his robust pastoral experience and is able to help Christians understand how the mysteries and wisdom of the Enneagram align beautifully with a sincere Christian faith." weniger anzeigen expand_less