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Using the 16PF® Questionnaire to Identify Successful Ministers

March, 2010

The United Methodist Church recently invited Dr. Ralph Mortensen, IPAT Chief Psychologist, Human Resources/Organizational Development, to conduct a workshop on interpretation of the 16PF® Questionnaire. Attendees included over 60 assessors who are responsible for evaluating seminary applicants to determine whether they are fit to be a minister. These assessors also use the 16PF Questionnaire as part of an assessment battery that is used to evaluate the competence of new ministers seeking assignment to their first congregation, as well as experienced ministers who apply for transfer from one church to another.

The workshop included a detailed review of the 16PF scales and hands-on practice in scale score interpretation using relevant case studies.   Dr. Mortensen illustrated the value of blending candidate evaluations against a general role profile, with careful consideration of the specific situation the minister would be entering.