The Awkward Shepherd: Tactics For A Young Pastor To Improve His Interpersonal Communication Skills

Abstract

Whether a pastor serves as a minister of a congregational flock or as a teacher of students in an institution, face-to-face communication plays a large role in his call. Yet for some pastors who have just graduated from seminary, the most daunting parts of ministry can be the hand-shaking at the end of worship, the narthex small talk after the service, the personal welcoming of new visitors to the church, and the continual communication he has to have with the souls entrusted to him. Some pastors struggle with social anxiety, even if they would not admit it. This project examines the role interpersonal communication plays in ministry and how pastors can make use of it. For the pastor who struggles with feeling awkward and anxious in social settings, researched tactics for him to try are given to help him improve in these environments, as well as interpersonal advice from pastors in the field who have overcome social anxiety.