Abstract
Aristotle believed that the trio of logos, ethos, and pathos was interconnected in effective communication. If one of the elements of speaking, logos, pathos, or ethos, can be identified as a source that has more weight than the others as it relates to preaching, preachers will be empowered to learn and gain from the study. After observing the effects of a contrast in the ethos of a senior and a junior minister as perceived by their shared congregation, the author undertook a study that demonstrated: (a) that ethos is arguably the most effective aspect of communication among Aristotle's triad and (b) that the most significant aspect of ethos is the importance of the audience's familiarity with the speaker.
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