Spring is mating season for churches. It's the time when churches invite prospects
to submit resumes to enter the competition for becoming the next pastor of the
church-up-a-notch. As pastors and DSs know, most churches have inordinate
opinions of themselves. They imagine anyone who has submitted a resume is
desperate to come to their church. Not all churches are this ay—but many
are, especially suburban churches. I heard of at least two churches this Spring who are insisting Pastoral applicants complete an
exhaustive ÒapplicationÓ in addition to submitting a resume. One candidate
complained it took four hours to complete the questions.
Actually the best
candidates for a church arenÕt looking for a job—they probably already
have one and the CHURCH needs to ÒrecruitÓ them. So, I've done a little mind game
here. I asked myself ÒWhat would
the ÔapplicationÕ most pastors would have for a CHURCH to submit to them if
they wanted to recruit them as a pastor?Ó
That is, what are the questions a pastor would ask a church before even considering sending
them a resume. Here is what I came up with:
____________________________________________________
CHURCH RESUME INFORMATION
I'd like to consider
your church but before submitting a resume I need some information. Please have
your board or search committee complete the following application and you will
be given serious consideration in the process of submitting resumes. Please
answer all questions thoroughly and with total frankness.
I. CHURCH
A. What event has shaped your church most in the last ten years?
B. How would you estimate the potential for reaching the unchurched
there in the future?
C. What is the seating capacity' of your sanctuary?
D. When was the last time your church
completed a building project?
E. How fast did you pay off that debt? What is the total amount of your present
indebtedness?
F. What is your average weekly income? How much is that over last year ?
G. What percentage of your church
families would you estimate tithe their income locally? Board?
H. What is the percentage make-up of
your Sunday morning attendance
___Children ___Youth ___Young Adults ___Adults ___Middle-Aged ___Seniors
I. What is the make-up of your
membership
___Children ___Youth ___Young Adults ___Adults ___Middle-Aged ___Seniors
J. What are your attendance patterns at
meeting other than morning worship?
K. What is the pastoral history of your
church?
Who were
the pastors during the last 15-20 years?
What
single sentence would you give typifying the ministry of each, and the reason
for their leaving?
L. Where does your church stand on the
tongues issue? (Place an x on the following continuum.)
Strongly opposed _____________________________________ strongly favor
M. What are some touchy issues with the
people in your church... divorce, alcohol, tobacco, materialism, or others,
which a pastor would need to use care in preaching about?
N. Describe how your pastoral selection
process' works. Will you interview only one person at a time, taking that
person all the way to a vote for acceptance or rejection before initiating
another interview? Or, will you interview a variety of candidates, hearing
several before you decide which one to recommend? Do you plan on a "trial
sermon"? Are you thinking of multiple interviews? Describe your process:
O. What kind of programs beyond worship for all ages does your church presently
have in place?
P. What style of
leadership typifies the desire of your church? (Place an x on the following
continuum.)
Board leads _______________________________________Pastor
leads
Q. How would you typify the worship
style of your congregation? What is the greatest resistance in your church to
worship styles?
R. How many people are weekly involved
in organized scheduled outreach to the poor or the unchurched?
S. How many converts would you say your
church has seen in the last year?
T. How would you typify the way your
church treats visitors ?
II. COMMUNITY
A. Describe your community in a short
paragraph (population, prominent employers, general atmosphere and attitude.
B. The church may do all of the
following things, but all of them cannot take priority. What is your ranking of
the following seven emphases in priority order (#1 highest, #2 next, etc.):
__Missions __Worship __Fellowship __Preaching __Evangelism __Serving
___Teaching
C. Finish this sentence... Our church
is best known in this community for:
D. What do you believe to be the most
pressing need in your community right now?
E. Describe the largest church in your
community or surrounding area. What is it like and how are you different/similar.
F. Over the last five years or so, when
people have left your church, what did they say was the reason?
G. What do you think were the primary
reasons?
H. What are the five biggest changes
you would like to see happen in your church?
I. How and when was your church started?
By whom?
J. Who do you feel has been your most
ideal pastor'? Why?
III. PASTORAL LEADERSHIP
A. What do you believe are the most
important priorities for your new pastor
(#1 most important, #2 next most important, etc.)?
__Time with family __Prayer __Visitation __Preparation for preaching
__Counseling ____Administration ____Denominational/para-church
work
B. What are your weekly time
expectations for your new pastor?
(i.e. How many hours would you expect your pastor to
spend each week in each of the following activities?)
___Time with family ___Visiting ___Counseling ___Prayer ___Preparation for
preaching
___Administration ___Denominational/para-church work_
C. What provisions do you make for the
pastor's personal and professional growth?
D. How would you typify the prayer
support for your present pastor?
E. What is the
pastor's financial support package and the related matters of pension, health
care, life insurance etc?
F. What are the arrangements you make
for a parsonage or housing allowance?
G. What is the make-up of your present
staff if you have such? If not, do you plan for staff?
H. Some church boards expect to play an
exceptionally strong role in the selection of assistant ministers and other
staff. Others expect the senior pastor to "hire the staff." How do
you believe staff should be added to the church?
I. Do you make provisions or exceptions
to the idea of the pastor's spouse serving on the paid staff at the church?
J. Over the past fifteen years which
pastor's spouse do you believe has functioned in a most ideal way? Why?
IV. REFERENCES
A. Your current or most recent pastor
(name and telephone number)
B. Immediately prior pastor (name and
telephone number)
C. Prior pastor before the one above (name
and telephone number)
D. Community person (someone familiar
with your church, though not an attender)
E. Denominational or para-church official who knows your church (name and
telephone number)
F. Recent special speaker who visited
your church (name and telephone number)
Thank you for completing this application. Be assured that your application
will be given prayerful consideration and should we wish to pursue further
discussion you will be contacted.
__________________________________________
By Keith Drury, 1995 You are free to transmit, duplicate or distribute this
article for non-profit use without permission.