Other "Thinking Drafts" and writing by Keith Drury --
http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .
In the Spring a young pastor's fancy turns to... to... MOVING. Older men too, and women! Maybe it's the Canada Geese. Entire flocks fly overhead honking jubilantly as they head for happier locations. They leave us behind, stuck with the same old folk, church, and parsonage.
Then, fellow pastors begin chattering about "what's opening up." Wouldn't it be nice to get away? Wouldn't it be nice to minister to a new congregation -- fresh faces, new enthusiasm, interesting new possibilities -- maybe even a better shopping mall? I recently asked a D.S. the standard Springtime question: "Expecting many changes this year." His response: "I think so...the natives are restless this year."
Are you restless this Spring? Are you feeling that migratory urge? If so, this newsletter is for you. It's about leaving, and going... or staying, too.
I asked several friends a few years ago what questions should be asked before leaving the present church, before going to another, and what they'd ask the board at a prospective church. I merged their questions with mine and now have "more questions than you could ever ask." Obviously, you would never ask all of these questions. However, by reading through the list, you might find several good ones to use.
There are other lists we need. I suppose someone ought to compile a list for boards interviewing prospective pastors. That's a good thought for the "Idea farm." And I guess someone might compose a list of questions a church needs to ask themselves before voting on their present minister... but that one I'm not touching with a ten-foot pole!
Thanks to Ron Wickard, Don Bray, Ron Kelly, Sam Crabtree, Rod Pickett, Harry Wood, Bern Lytle, Aaron Rummage, Tim Smith, John Bray, Jim Watkins, and Dan Wilson for their ideas for questions.
1. Is my work here really finished?
2. Am I simply depressed about a temporary situation?
3. Is this a "cycle of life" -- do I want to move every Spring?
4. Is this church the problem, or am I the problem?
5. Am I running away from something I'll eventually face elsewhere?
6. How much have I prayed -- really prayed -- about this?
7. How much has "better opportunity" influenced my restlessness?
8. Have I had an increasing uneasiness here?
9. Is the thought of moving constantly on my mind?
10. Am I willing to stay? How willing?
11. What would it take to persuade me to stay?
12. Is my own spiritual dryness the real issue?
13. Does my family tend to confirm it's time to go?
14. What bugs me most about this church?
15. Why did God send me here in the first place?
16. What are the pros in staying here?
17. The cons?
18. What does the DS think?
19. Have I stayed at least three years?
20. What might I do differently here if I do stay?
1. What event has shaped your church most in the last ten years?
2. What is the seating capacity of your sanctuary? Your classrooms?
3. When was the last time your church undertook a building project?
4. What is the total amount of your indebtedness?
5. What is your average weekly income over the last year?
6. What percentage of your church families would you estimate tithe?
7. What is the percentage make-up by age of your Sunday attendance?
8. Interpret the growth chart of your church over the last 10 years.
9. Who were the last three pastors of your church? What single sentence would you give typifying their ministry?
10. How does your pastoral selection process work? 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 interviews?
11. Are you a more board-led church or a pastor-led church?
12. How would you typify the worship style of your congregation?
13. How many people go soul winning each week?
14. How many people accepted Christ through your church last year?
15. How would you typ