So as a pastoral candidate, you’re about this deep in the interview process with this church, and you’re wondering: Have I asked all the needed questions to make a clear, faith-filled, and wise decision? On the other hand, maybe you’re getting ready to embark on an interview journey and want to get as prepared as you can. Either way, before accepting a pastoral position, there are a ton of questions you should be able to ask before saying yes.
Pastoral Candidate Questions You Need to Ask
The questions the church asks you are critical. It opens up lines of communication between both parties and gives a perspective of your character, skills, and personality. The church will find a sense of chemistry with you or even a lack of it. It also gives you insight into who the church is and the leaders that work there.
If you flip that coin, your questions are just as important. If you ask the right questions, you’ll get the right answers. Whether you like the answers or not, it will still inform you on the direction you should head towards.
If you can’t ask the questions you want or need answers for, this should let you know it may not be the right place to go. After all, you’ll be committing to not only a church but people, staff, leaders, and a community.
Even if the pay sounds good (which is a question you should ask!), the city and landscape are beautiful, plus the church has a good reputation. If these 11 questions aren’t asked, you may be in for a treat you don’t want as a pastoral candidate.
1. Who Would I Directly Report to?
You obviously want to know who will be your direct report (DR) as you will, how can I say this, directly report to that person! Whether you have had the chance to meet that person or not changes so many things. Would you want to be evaluated by someone like your DR? Getting information about this will allow you to discover not only the church structure but the way it works. I once had a DR, but evaluations did not come from him; instead, they came through a central person I rarely worked with!
2. Why Did the Previous Pastor Leave?
This question is by no means to disrespect anyone. People have a right to change, move, and follow God’s calling. Yet, this answer will give you insight into some challenges of the role or even how the church deals with rupture. The way they answer will also tell you a lot. If they lack any respect, why would they honor you? In the same vein, “Is the previous pastor still in the church/area” is a very pertinent question. If so, maybe the former leader will be the dreaded mother-in-law! Be mindful of the answer as the pastoral candidate, but gossip here is not the purpose.
3. In a Year, What Would Make My Hire a Worthwhile Fit for the Church?
This one is so important. It forces the church to say what will be their evaluating criteria. A job description is important; that’s why there are 15 requirements, if not more. The 15 needed qualifications are not of all equal importance, though. There are usually 3-5 that supersede the rest… and they may just be your bottom 3-5 qualities! A match here is important.
4. What Do You Foresee in the Future for This Role? Church? Organization?
Finding out what the church is striving for will come out with this question. It will need to build a new facility, acquire one, plant a campus, or consolidate with other like-minded churches are possible answers. Maybe no one will have an answer… which may be a problem for an ambitious and driven pastor like you. “If the church kept growing (or started growing), what would need to change” might be a great optional version.
5. What Makes This Ministry a Success?
Defining success is hard. Is it numbers-based, or is it all about how people feel? Is it compared to previous expectations or based on future hopes? While “If we get 15 more volunteers, it will be successful” and “We will have built new initiatives” are two very different ways to evaluate success, one probably fits better with your ministry wiring.
6. What Other Ministry Do You Respect/Admire/Follow/Relate With?
This is about alignment and partnership. It is said “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Whether that is exact or not isn’t the point; you usually align with people/organizations you value. Influence being what it is, the church will change in reaction to the people and organizations it values most.
7. What Makes You Want to Hire Me?
This is not to get a pat on the back or even to fill your tank with words of affirmation. You need to set it up well, like “I’m privileged to be considered for this role within your church, knowing many capable pastoral candidates have applied. What reasons make you consider me for the role?” It will help you understand the reasoning behind their choice. The church is definitely interested in you, or they wouldn’t interview you.
8. What Expectations Should My Wife/Kids/Family Be Aware of?
If you’re married and/or you have kids, this one is a prerequisite of a question. The answer goes along the lines of what is implied, not necessarily noted on paper. You’ve heard of the “women/prayer/wives ministry” untold expectation. You wouldn’t want to offend the church, even less your wife, if you don’t attend a weekly member’s dinner!
9. What Does the Ministry Schedule Look Like?
Now more than ever, this is important for a pastoral candidate. Many things can be done from home, out of the office, like sermon prep and responding to emails. A job description won’t say office hours from 9-5, Monday-Thursday, prayer night on Wednesday, and weekly morning men’s breakfast. The church might not even mention block-out dates, which would be normal around Easter and Christmas seasons. You may want to dig in here.
10. What Is the Ongoing Plan for Continuing Education/Training?
If you value education and training, ask the church what’s the plan for such things. For example, is there a budget for attending conferences, buying books, or getting your MDiv? This proves whether or not the church values similar things as you. Just because many have such allowances does not mean that all do!
11. When Was the Ministry’s Best Years/Season?
Tough one. Having more than one person answering this brings nuance and perspective on values, how the church handles change, and people’s reactions. It may also reveal that their best years were when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, or worse, they don’t know when it was.
Other Pastoral Candidate Questions
If there was a twelfth question, it would be the one you want to ask. Who’s on the payroll, may I see the church budget, or what is it like to live in this city are all valid questions. But please, pastoral candidate, do not accept the position until you’ve asked these!
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