Questionnaire Questions for Pastoral Job Applicants

Questionnaire Questions for Pastoral Job Applicants

Over the past two decades, I have entered a few application processes for pastoral employment. Many local churches, and some other faith-based organizations, like to use questionnaires in weeding/screening out prospects. They will receive resumes (and sometimes applications) and compare applicants. Then they rank them and send a questionnaire to their top prospects. In some cases a follow-up questionnaire is sent after the first round of cuts and the list of prospects is narrowed down. These steps often occur before a phone or in-person interview. It is common for these personnel staff groups to take their time and have quality prospects move through several stages of the applicant-candidate process. Each ministry organization varies in how they carry this out but be sure of this, if you ever seek a job as a pastor or ministerial staff person in a faith-based organization, like a local church, you can expect many relevant questions will come your way.

Over the years, I created a master questionnaire reservoir on my computer. This personal resource included all of the questions I received and my responses to those questions. This way I could tap into any previous responses and update them accordingly as needed and as the Lord led.

The people on the employer/organization side of the process seek to learn more about the applicant, especially as it relates to the specific job responsibilities that person is applying for. During the applicant process, they are pondering (hopefully prayerfully) whether that person can do the job well, fit in their organizational culture, and should they move forward with the applicant. It is not all about them, though. The applicant should also be prayerfully asking questions and learning more about the ministry organization and its people, but this write-up is about questionnaires given to pastoral applicants.

Below are examples of questions, and subjects to respond to, that I have personally received as an applicant for various pastoral job positions in a variety of churches the past twenty years.

Personal & Family:

- Contact information

- Marriage, divorce, separation history

- Children names, ages, genders; salvation? baptized?

- Please describe the social/cultural setting in which you were raised.

- How do you function as the spiritual leader of your family?

- Briefly describe your salvation testimony.

- Briefly describe your baptism testimony. When were you baptized? By immersion?

- Briefly describe God calling you to ministry work.

- Spouse saved? If yes, when?

- Spouse baptized? If yes, when, how?

Education background:

- College academic programs/degrees completed, working toward, …

- Certifications, special training credentials

Ordination, licensing information

Experience background (especially ministry related but also transferrable skills from other experiences):

- Name of organization/ministry.

- Location, contact info.

- Role/responsibilities.

- Noteworthy accomplishments, achievements.

- Duration.

- Why did the experience/job end? Or why do you desire to leave?

- May we contact your former/current manager?

Experience and vision related:

- Philosophy of ministry (your priorities, key strategies).

- Describe your experience/training and vision for ministry in each of the following areas: Christian Education, Family Ministry, Discipleship Development, Small Group Development, Assimilation into Church Life

- What role does discipleship play in your life?

- What activities characterize your evangelistic interest?

- Briefly summarize some of the spiritual milestones in your life.

- What is your missionary vision for your role in the church?

Strengths, Weakness, Abilities, Personality

- What are your special talents and abilities?

- Your spiritual gift(s).

- Your personality type. What personality type do you best work with and what type do you struggle with?

- Strengths overall. Strengths in ministry.

- Weaknesses. Personal and ministry areas where you need to improve.

Challenges and Conflict:

- Describe a failure, a disappointing or difficult season, in your ministry and how you grew from it.

- How do you respond to criticism? Please give us a personal example.

- Have you and the Lord been able to remove a bad habit from your life?  If so, briefly explain.

Spiritual Disciplines:

Please comment on the significance of the following in your spiritual walk:

- Prayer, witnessing, fellowship, giving, Bible study, learning, stewardship

- Please provide information regarding your daily quiet time.

Doctrinal Questions:

Briefly summarize your views on the following:

- Holy Scriptures

- The inerrancy, authority and infallibility of the Bible

- God the Father

- God the Son

- the Virgin birth

- the Atoning work on the cross

- the Resurrection

- the Present work of Jesus Christ)

- God the Holy Spirit

- Sin

- Nature of people

- Salvation

- Election/Predestination

- Free Will

- Eternal Security

- Baptism

- Lord’s Supper

- Angels/demons

- Church

- End Times

- Signs/Miraculous Gifts,

- The Lordship of Jesus Christ in one’s life

- The cultivation of holiness in the church

- Baptism of infants

- Creation

- Do you believe the Bible is God’s revealed Word to man, inspired by the Holy Spirit in its entirety without any error?

- Could you explain your opinion about the Calvinism vs. Arminianism, reformed, debate and which school of thought or variations do you adhere to?

- Do you believe that Adam and Eve were real historical characters?

- Do you believe the miracles described in the Bible actually occurred as they are recorded in the Bible?

- Do you believe Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died on the cross taking upon him the sin of all mankind?

- What are the ways that you understand an individual can obtain eternal life in heaven?

- Describe your image of the ideal disciple.

- What is the relationship between faith and good works?

- Do you feel that you meet the qualifications for an elder as identified in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9 & 1 Peter 5:1-4.  Yes or No

- Which are your strongest qualities?

- With which requirements do you have the most trouble?

- What do you believe is the role of an Elder? 

- What do you believe are the roles of the Pastors?

- Having examined our doctrinal statement, do you find yourself in total accord? Yes or No.

- Do you adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000?

Other Questions; statements to respond to:

- Which version of the Bible do you prefer and why?

- What’s your favorite Bible verse? 

- Why are you interested in being considered as a candidate for the role of ? at ?

- What contribution do you feel you could make at ??

- Co-habitation (living together outside of marriage)

- The issue of abortion

- Financial management

- Tithing

- Are you excessively indebted?

- Please explain what accommodation the church should make regarding the issues of

- homosexual behavior

- premarital cohabitation

- social drinking

- The use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs

- How do you practice hospitality?

- What are your views on courting vs. dating?

- Tell of a time in your life when you lived by faith, totally trusting God.

- What are your convictions in the area of personal separation from the world?

- Questionable practices/organizations like secret orders, ecumenical movement

- What is the health status of you and those who would be coming with you?

- If you lack experience or feel unqualified in any of the areas related to this job description, describe how you would compensate or overcome weakness in that area.

- Is there anything you can think of that would keep you from giving at least three years of service to our church? (e.g., Health of parents, children’s plans, etc.)

- Are you aware of any reason that someone may have to question your suitability to serve as ? at ?? If so, please explain.

Leadership, teamwork, administration:

- Have you demonstrated an ability to lead and motivate people to love and serve the Lord?  Please explain.

- If you were supervising someone who had your temperament and your level of experience and education, how would you do it? In other words, what would help a supervisor bring out the best in you?

- If a volunteer under your supervision was not doing the job you expected them to do, what are some things you would do to address the problem?

- How do you delegate responsibility?

- How do you achieve accountability?

- Administrative accomplishments.

- Have you had any background in evaluating and recommending improvements to ministries, procedures, and ministry space? If so, describe your experience.

- How do you supervise, motivate and develop staff, interns and lay leaders?

- Oral and written communication.

- Computer skills.

Music/Worship Style:

- What are your convictions and preferences in the area of music?

- How are you musically?  Instruments? Vocals?  List any musical talent and any ministry experience in the area of music that you or your wife have.

- What are your views on the “seeker” sensitive approach to ministry?

Learning, reading, pastors/speakers:

- If you have read a book or attended a conference that was particularly meaningful to you in the last year, tell us about it, and tell me why it was meaningful to you.

- Who is your favorite Christian author? 

- Are there any preachers, writers, and organizations that you particularly admire?

- Have you ever read Rick Warren’s book Purpose Driven Church?  If yes, what did you think of his approach?

- List any periodicals that you are currently reading.

 

Age, Gender, Niche related:

- Do you have a specific age group that you are most comfortable with?

- What do you believe to be the greatest needs of youth today?

- What curriculum and materials have you used for music, Bible study, and

evangelism in working with youth or singles?

- Explain your views on the role of women in the local church.

- What do you believe to be the greatest needs of singles today?

- Outdoor activities, camp management and/or experience.

Spouse related:

- Please explain your wife's attitude toward your ministry and your expectations of her involvement in the church.

- What plans would your spouse have regarding employment?

- Does your wife currently work outside the home?  Has she worked outside the home in the past?

- In what church-related activities has your wife participated?

Personal Time:

- How do you like to spend your leisure time?

- If you had several months of free time, assuming adequate funds, what would you work on?

- What television shows and movies do you like to watch?

- What is one of your favorite family activities?

References: name, contact info, your relational context

- If selected as a candidate, do we have your permission to perform a child abuse/criminal background check? If so, please initial here:

Attestation

If you affirm that you have answered all questions honestly before the Lord and desire to be considered for the position of ? of ?, please sign below.

Candidate’s Signature:          ?                                                              Date:  ?                      

Wife’s Affirmation

Do you believe that your husband is qualified to serve as ?or at ??

Xm Yes    m No  

Do you have any reservations or concerns about your husband serving as an ? at ?? No

As the candidate’s wife, do you fully support him in this decision?      Xm Yes    m No  

Wife’s Signature: ?                                                                              Date:  ?                      

If you have any questions for the Search Committee, please submit them on a separate sheet.

Along with this questionnaire, please submit a recent photo and a CD or DVD of a recent sermon that you have preached.

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Wow! There were many examples of actual accumulated questions I have received from churches, over the years, as an applicant for a pastoral job position.

From the perspective of the hiring ministry and/or pastoral applicant side, what are your thoughts on these questions?

And do you have any suggestions for additional pastoral applicant questions?

Mike