Interviewing candidates for ministry leadership positions is a crucial process that requires careful consideration. Ministry leaders play a vital role in guiding and shepherding congregations. To help you identify the most qualified candidates and ensure a successful interview process, we have created the ultimate list of must-ask interview questions for ministry leaders. After all, finding the right individuals to fill these positions is essential for the spiritual growth and overall health of your church.
These 20 questions will cover various aspects of the candidate’s character, experience, and vision, allowing you to get to know them on more than just a job level. As you begin to uncover who they are, you will have a better understanding of the best candidates for your church.
The Ultimate List of Must-Ask Interview Questions for Ministry Leaders
Here is our ultimate list of must-ask interview questions for ministry leaders (in no particular order):
1. Can you share your personal story of how you came to Jesus?
This must-ask interview question helps you understand the candidate’s relationship with God and the personal experiences that have shaped their spiritual journey. Truthfully, this may be the most significant part of the entire interview.
2. What does your personal Bible reading and study time look like?
No matter the position they are in, you want candidates who have a well-established walk with Jesus. They aren’t just self-proclaimed Christians, but they are also studying the Word and hungry to know more of God’s Word.
3. What is your philosophy of ministry?
Do they align with your church’s philosophy on ministry? It’ll be very obvious as they begin talking.
4. How do you prioritize and balance various responsibilities and ministry areas?
Ministry leaders often have multiple responsibilities. It’s important to gauge the candidate’s ability to manage their time effectively and prioritize their tasks.
5. How do you foster a culture of discipleship and spiritual growth within the church?
Look for candidates who prioritize discipleship and have a clear plan for nurturing the spiritual development of individuals within the congregation. This must-ask interview question will help you identify candidates who care about the people of your church and want to help them grow in their relationship with Jesus.
6. How do you handle conflict with others?
Conflict resolution skills are crucial for ministry leaders. Look for candidates who can demonstrate a balanced approach to dealing with conflict. Someone quick to stir up conflict or slow to resolve conflict with others is not a good fit for your church leadership.
7. Describe your experience working with diverse groups of people and fostering inclusivity within the church.
Ministry leaders should have a heart for all people and be committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. This is something that requires intentionality.
8. How do you approach pastoral care and counseling?
Ministry leaders often play a role in providing emotional and spiritual support to individuals within the congregation. You want to hire compassionate, empathetic candidates who prioritize people.
9. How do you collaborate with other staff and volunteers to achieve common goals?
Leaders should be team players who effectively work with others and build strong relationships within the church community. Collaboration is a critical part of church leadership. An interview candidate needs to display collaborative skills to be a good fit for your leadership team.
10. Describe a situation where you faced a significant challenge or setback in ministry. How did you handle it?
Ministry is full of ups and downs, highs and lows. How do they handle that? Are they going to get discouraged and give up at the first sign of difficulty? Find out with real-world examples what kind of leader each candidate is.
11. Tell me about your family (or friends if they’re not married).
Learn about their relationships outside of work. Understand who is closest to them and what those relationships are like. The health of a leader is partly impacted by the health of the relationships closest to them.
12. Can you share an example of a successful ministry initiative or program that you implemented?
This question allows candidates to showcase their creativity, leadership abilities, and their capacity to bring about positive change in the church. Are there things they’ve developed and implemented in past experiences? Those instances will help you see if they are a proactive leader and not afraid to try new things to help further the mission.
13. How do you engage and connect with the broader community outside the church?
Do they reach out? Do they have a heart for the lost? In Mark 16:15, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Jesus gave us a very clear mission. Do they follow that? Is it something they prioritize?
14. What is your vision for the future of the church and its ministry?
Look for candidates who have a clear vision and can articulate how they plan to lead the church (or ministry) toward growth and impact in the coming years.
15. How do you personally cultivate and maintain your spiritual health and growth?
Ministry leaders need to prioritize their spiritual well-being. Look for candidates who have intentional practices for their personal spiritual development. You want people who have a true relationship with Jesus. These are people with patterns and habits that cultivate their relationship with God daily.
16. What books have you read recently?
Do they read? Are they committed to personal growth? This is a great question to understand those things. We’ve all heard the saying, “Leaders are readers.” While I don’t think you have to be a reader to be a great leader, I do agree that most great leaders are committed to growth and learning.
17. Do you listen to any podcasts or sermons regularly?
What voices are they listening to? What they are putting in will also come out in their leadership. So, this can give you some insight into what kind of leaders they may be or become.
18. Who are your heroes? Who do you look up to the most and why?
Like the voices they listen to in sermons or podcasts, their heroes are the most influential people in their lives. These are people they want to emulate. So, understanding a person’s leaders and influences is very telling about them.
19. What’s one significant lesson you’ve learned in life?
Are they vulnerable, transparent, and open? If they are, it will come out in this must-ask interview question. Our lessons are learned from our failures. Are they vulnerable enough to admit that? If not, they may not be a good fit for leadership in your church.
20. If time and money were no object, what would you do with your life?
This is my favorite interview question. It reveals so much. Without time and money as a hindrance, most of us would do whatever we’re most passionate about. So this question reveals a candidate’s deepest passions and dreams.
Gain Valuable Insights
By asking these must-ask interview questions for ministry leaders, you can gain valuable insights into their character, qualifications, and alignment with the vision and values of your church. Remember to listen attentively. Are they vulnerable and transparent or do they only provide the answers they think you want to hear?
Don’t listen for “correct” answers, but listen for openness and honesty from the candidate. Their character and heart are far more important than their impressive resume or experiences. Who they are is going to shine through in what they do. Focus on that!
