Skip to main content
Log in

Ministerial effectiveness: A review of recent research

  • Articles
  • Published:
Pastoral Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Effectiveness of ministers is difficult to measure. Ideally, the goal would be to find out if they have been helpful in reconciling people to God and to each other. However, these criteria can only be assessed indirectly. This essay proposes a model of effectiveness and reviews several studies designed to assess one or more of its facets. Although results are only somewhat conclusive, the methods are promising and future research on this foundation is indicated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Free, J. and Malony, N.H. (in press), “The incorporating body: How churches gain and hold members,”Review of Religious Research, in press.

  • Howe, B.R.,Defining ministerial effectiveness in terms of the change effects in the persons ministered to. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M., Lohr, H., Wagner, J. and Barge, W.The relationship between pastors' effectiveness and satisfaction and other psychological and sociological variables: The growth in ministry project research. The Lutheran Church in America: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kling, F.R., “A study of testing as related to ministry,”Religious Education, 1958, pp. 243–248.

  • Majovski, L.F. and Malony, H.N., “The role of psychological assessment in ministerial selection,” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Religious Association, Knoxville, Tennessee, 1983.

  • Malony, H.N. “Current research on performance effectiveness among religious leaders” in J. Donaldson, Jr., (Ed.),Research in mental health and religious behavior, Atlanta, Georgia, Psychological Studies Institute, 1976, pp. 242–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malony, H.N., “A framework for understanding the local church: Organization development” in C. Dudley (Ed.),Building effective ministry: Theory and practice in the local church, (New York, Harper and Row, 1983), pp. 175–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nauss, A., “Problems in measuring ministerial effectiveness,”Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 11(2) 1972, pp. 141–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nauss, A., “The relation of pastoral mobility to effectiveness,”Review of Religious Research, 15(2) 1974, pp. 80–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nauss, A., “Seven profiles of effective ministeries,”Review of Religious Research, 24(4) 1983, pp. 334–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schell, Jr., M.F.,Total church growth. (Pasadena, California, Fuller Evangelistic Association, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuller, D.S., Strommen, M.P., and Brekke, M.L.Ministry In America. (San Francisco, Harper and Row, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S.F. and Malony, H.N.,The relationship between church attendance and agreement with minister's role expectations. Unpublished master's thesis, Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, S.C.,An inventory of religious activities and interests. (Princeton, New Jersey, Educational Testing Service, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Malony, H.N. Ministerial effectiveness: A review of recent research. Pastoral Psychol 33, 96–104 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01086370

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01086370

Keywords

Navigation