Introverts Don’t Make Good Pastors
by
Or, maybe they do.
- I’m a pastor and an introvert.
- I get energy from being alone.
- Being with people for long periods of time drains me, although I have strong people skills.
- I love to read.
- I go on silent retreats.
- After church every Sunday I need to spend time without high people interaction.
- Did I say I am an introvert?
Am I automatically disadvantaged as a pastor?
Do only the gregarious, back slapping pastors lead big churches?
Some years ago I learned that my
introversion offended a church leader where I once served. We held an
overnight leadership retreat at a local retreat center. After the last
session ended around nine, we provided snacks and games. At about ten, I
went to bed as was my habit. Most of the other leaders stayed up past
midnight. Had I stayed up with them, I would have been toast for the
sessions to follow the next morning.
I learned months later that my leaving the
group to go to bed offended him. He brought it up more than once. He was
an extrovert and did not like me yielding to my introversion.
Should I have stayed up to “work the
crowd?” Perhaps. But that incident illustrates the challenges introverts
often face when they serve in ministry.
As I’ve pondered this issue more deeply, I read the book Quiet, the Power of Introverts that Can’t Stop Talking
by Susan Cain, a great read. As an introvert, Susan presents a
compelling case for the the power of introverts. If you are an
introvert, you will feel affirmed if you read it.
Here’s a good article on introverts here.
If you are an introvert, what challenges have you experienced in ministry?
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