Going on a job interview especially for a new church can be scary.  Your leaders may or may not know you’re talking to someone else.  Your team probably doesn’t know. There is a lot of secrecy.  On top of that, you’re considering moving your family to a new church community in a different part of the country. 

I liken the hiring process to dating.  First, you look on job boards and ask your network for leads. That’s like signing up for Match.com.  Then you send them your resume.  You swiped right. Now you’re hoping they call you back. Will they swipe right too?  Then you start with some emails then a phone call.  Maybe you meet over zoom.  Then you decide to meet in person and look each other over.  Finally, the church makes an offer, and you have a decision to make. Do you say yes and enter into a long-term commitment, or do you say no and keep looking?

But, many times, job interviews are one-sided.  The pastor comes with their set of questions, and you answer them to the best of your ability. It feels like filling out the personality profile on PlentofFish.com.  But it shouldn’t be this way.  You need to come with your own set of questions.  You’re interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.  They may like you a ton, but so did that socially awkward kid. You know the one. They strangely smiled at you, and you got that weird vibe.  (No offense to anyone, I’ve been on both sides of that look.) 

Joking aside, just because they give you an offer, you don’t have to accept.  You don’t want to walk into a situation that looks perfect on the outside, just to find out it’s not what you expected at all.  So, you need to find out as much as possible before you commit. 

That’s why I’ve written 75 questions to ask at the job interview.  I know.  It’s a lot.  But you don’t need to, nor should you ask all them on the first call.  You will have many conversations with the church and its leaders. As you get to know each other better, you can ask more personal questions further down the list. 

I’ve written these questions with a staff pastor in mind.  Whether you’re serving in kidmin, student ministry, or something else you can use these.  Feel free to add your own and follow up on the things you care about the most. 

First Questions

1.   Why did the previous person leave?

2.  How long was were they there?

3.  How long do people in this position normally stay?

4.  What is your church’s mission/vision?

5.  What is your vision for this ministry?

6.  What is your biggest win in the last five years?

7.   What is your biggest loss in the last five years?

8.  What would you like to see in the ministry/ church in the next 5-10 years

9.  What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the church in the next 5-10 years?

Church and Ministry

10. How old is the church?

11.   How long have you been in that location?

12.   What is the church’s statement of faith?

13.   Do you agree with it?

14.   If you don’t, can you live with the disagreement? Can the pastor?

15.   How many people attend your church?

16.   Is the current attendance the largest it’s ever been? 

17.   If not, when and what happened for it shrink?

18.   If it is, what do you attribute your current growth toward?

19.   How many people are in the ministry?

20.   How many kids/youth attend regularly?

21.   Does the church do small groups or Sunday School? Why?

22.   What is the general condition of the buildings and grounds?

The Ministry You will Oversee

23.   What is the pastor’s definition of a strong and effective ministry to your area?

24.   If I was to start in this position, what would you want me to work on first?

25.   What problems, if any, would you like me to solve?

26.   What would you consider a win in the ministry?

27.   What would you consider a loss?

28.   What are successful outreach activities that the ministry has held recently?

29.   What ministry/events/programs would you like to see continue if I was to start here?

30.   What ministry/events/programs would you like to see started while I serve there?

31.   How many volunteers are currently in the ministry?

32.   What is the general condition of the ministry area you will oversee?

33.   What is the current condition of the ministry? Do you agree?

34.   Are the ministry areas only theirs or are they multi-purpose?

35.   If they’re multi-purpose, who has final say on décor, set-up, tear-down, and improvements?

Pastoral Leadership

36.   What form of government does the church operate?

37.   Does this work for you?

38.   How many years has the leader been at the church?

39.   How many years has the pastor been in ministry?

40.   What are the goals of the pastor?

41.   How do they plan to get there?

42.   Is the plan realistic?

43.   Are the goals obtainable by what they are presently doing?

44.   How much time does the pastor spend with their staff?

45.   If there is a layer of leadership between you and the senior pastor, how much time do I spend with that leader?

46.   What is that leader’s passion?

47.   Can you serve, honor, and respect them just as much as the Pastor?

48.   What role in the ministry does the Pastor’s spouse fulfill?

49.   What role in ministry would your spouse be expected to fill?

50.   Has the Pastor and/or supervisor or their spouses eve had a problem with a moral failure while in ministry?

51.   If yes, has there been Biblical restoration and repentance?

Missions and Ministry

52.   Do the people who attend the church represent the community that surrounds it?

53.   How does the church outreach to the local community?

54.   On a scale of 1-10 how important are foreign missions?

55.   On a scale of 1-10 how important are local missions?

56.   How involved do you expect me/ the ministry I lead to be in these missions projects?

57.   Does your church do local and/or foreign missions trips? 

58.   When was the last time your church took such a trip?

59.   How often does your church send those teams?

60.   What are successful outreach activities that you church has held recently?

Quality of Life

61.   Does the church have an employee handbook?

62.   Can you read it before you accept?

63.   What is the policy for outside ministry?

64.   What provisions are made for professional development? Conferences, books, continuing education?

65.   What is the social media policy for the church?

66.   What expectations are there for the use of social media?

67.   Can you produce your own content for your channels, or do they need to only echo what’s happening at the church?

68.   What are normal office hours?

69.   What days off do the Pastors take?

Finances

70.   How are the church finances?

71.   Has the church had to lay off or reduce salaries because of lower tithes/offerings?

72.   What was the budget for the ministry last year?

73.   By what percentages is the budget broken into?  Salaries, ministry, facilities, missions, etc.

74.   How much of the budget will I be expected to raise?

75.   How does the pastor feel about the current size of the budget? Do you agree?

Saying yes to a new job is like getting engaged.  You’ve committed to a new long term relationship. You will get to know each other intimately as you work together to accomplish the Great Commission.  Don’t take this time lightly and don’t say yes too quickly.  Pray that God will open the right doors and when they open step through them with boldness.  There’s no place better than being in the center of God’s will.

Full disclosure, many of these questions are from Jim Wideman’s resource, Stay or Go. Unfortunately, it's no longer available. If you' like an editable copy of these questions, download them below.

If you’re going through a ministry transition or just thinking about it, I have several posts that can help.  See them all here.

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