The Enneagram Goes to Church

I was a latecomer to /skeptic of the enneagram but it has been a useful tool to begin seeing myself in context among others. Todd Wilson’s The Enneagram Goes to Church: Wisdom for Leadership, Worship, and Congregational Life (InterVarsity Press, 2021) tracks where he uses the concepts for church leadership.

The book assumes that you have a basic familiarity with the tool (cf: http://enneagraminstitute.com) and accept its general premise. In other words, there’s not much attention trying to teach you what it is and why, but how to use it in ministry.

Smith is coming from a location that is much more evangelical than mine, so many of his church examples reflect that environment, but there is nothing that prevents applying this into a non-evangelical context. You can tell he’s working to defend the Enneagram by how he establishes his credentials and the “all truth is God’s truth” talk in the introduction. Also, to distance himself from progressive churches who have used the Enneagram for a while (Rohr, Bell, et al).

There’s a chart describing “valid insights from the Enneagram transposed to a Christian key” (20) that is the most explicit way that he shows compatibility with Christian (read, evangelical) maxims. Not necessary for me, but I can see how this would be a helpful tool for others.

It takes off from there though, describing the ways that different personalities respond to the role of pastor but also how congregants and entire communities can reflect distinct patterns. Chapters on Leadership, Preaching, Worship, Congregational Care, and Teamwork describe how different Types express themselves and interact in different ways. The dominant theme is that there is no single WAY to be and that knowing yourself and others is necessary for health.

Ex: a type 7 leader may have a strength of energy and connection, but struggle with grief or lament. That mismatch is seen a lot in church planter types working in a church with primarily aging members.

Ex: a type 2 leader excels at the multiple functions of relating to and caring for people, but struggles with setting a vision and withstanding conflict. That mismatch is seen with pastors who are overextended or listless.

Having the language to describe yourself and your context opens up potential for creating healthier dynamics. Using a tool like the Enneagram allows you to see patterns in your unique experience.

I would especially recommend this book for people beginning in ministry as it can help them see how their fit will determine their overall health and role in a community. Also, mid-career folks doing their own assessment of their situation and calling or mentoring leaders to find their fit in ministry.

The enneagram has become an incredible tool for understanding one's motivations. Whether you are new to the enneagram or have read the seminal texts, you will find an interesting application in this book, The Enneagram Goes to Church. Wilson takes previous writings on the enneagram and puts it against preaching styles and church management which offers new insights to how the church functions. It's an accessible book and worth the read for any staff wanting to understand their church community better.

For years now I’ve been fascinated with the enneagram. I have so many books and I still don’t know everything there is to know about it! When I noticed The Enneagram Goes to Church by Todd Wilson, I couldn’t pass it up!!

Each of the nine enneagram types are described in this book in a manner I’ve never found anywhere else. While I understand the basics of the enneagram, many other books dive into wings and triads. This book, however, describes the timeframe and the recessive stances. These totally blew me away!

I also love how it’s explained that the enneagram isn’t just to figure out yourself, but the people you relate with. It describes pastors preaching from each type. It also describes the congregation listening types. And let’s not omit the church culture type!

While I’m not a pastor or even a church staffer, I find it useful to think about these as any team or organization. When a team is in conflict, it’s helpful to get past each persons emotions and lean into what’s actually going on. Many teams fall apart because of their failure to relate to one another. In steps enneagram and it helps to smooth things over.

A digital copy of The Enneagram Goes to Church by Todd Wilson was provided complimentary in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 5 out of 5 tiaras because I was so blown away with a new perspective of understanding the enneagram and how it relates in so many situations. I have a new outlook on how the enneagram could be useful for me to Doug still deeper. Love it!