PASTOR'S QUESTIONS FOR CHURCHES
During the Candidating Procedure
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INDEX
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1. History
2. Church Building
3. Administration
4. Pastoral Ministry
Previous Pastor
Priorities
Preaching
Expectations
5. Church Ministries
Children
Youth
Adult
Evangelism
Worship & Music
Other ministries
6. Vision & Goals
7. Pay Package
8. Housing
9 Staff
10. Other Matters
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1. HISTORY
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Growth graph of pervious 10 yrs? ________________
Growth statistics for last 5 yrs? ________________
Annual Reports previous year _________ 5 yrs ___________
Were there any pastoral moral problems ______________________________
Church Splits / Divisions / Fights
What is the church's traditional stand on ...
Divorce & Remarriage
Charismatic Movement
Legalism (do's & don'ts)
Theology (Arminian or Calvinist)
Women in Ministry
Abortion
Church Discipline
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2. CHURCH BUILDING
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sanctuary ______ S.School rooms _________
seating cap ______ fellowship hall ________
attendance ______ gym _________
color ______ secretary office _______
lighting ______ pastors study ________
pew/chairs ______ equipment -
baptistry ______ typerwriter ________
pulpit ______ computer ________
sound sys _____ printer ________
asthetics ______ copier ________
foyer ______ phones ________
nursery ______ fax ________
bathrooms ______ projector/screen ______
floor plan ______ overhead ______
library ______ answering machine ________
meeting rm ______ furnishings/tables/chairs _______
State of repair _____________________________________________________
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3. ADMINISTRATION
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Governing board - members ____ women? ____ elders ____ others ___
Board Positons ___________ _____________ _____________ _____________
___________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________
Committees ___________ _____________ _____________ _____________
___________ _____________ _____________ _____________ ____________
By-laws _________ copy ______
Annual rpt _________ copy ______
Policies __________
Annual mtg date ___________
Job descriptions __________
Accountability & reporting _________________________________________
Budget previous year 199___ ____________
Budget current year 199___ ____________
Income 199___ general fund ____________
missions _____________
building _____________
other _____________
Escrow accounts _____________________
Debts $________________ $___________________ $___________________
Members _______________ Adherants _________________
Legal matters pending ______________________________________________
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4. PASTORAL MINISTRY
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Previous Pastor's length of stay? ________________________
Why did he leave ____________________________________________________
What were his strengths?
1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
What were his weaknesses?
1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
How do you expect a new pastor to be different?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
How do you expect a new pastor to be similar?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
What are the most important pastoral strengths? (scale 1 to 10 number one being
most important, ten least important.) Pick only 10 leave the rest.
___ preaching ___ administration ___ study of Word
___ teaching ___ planning & vision ___ visit members
___ training ___ planning activities ___ visit new people
___ discipling ___ resolving conflicts ___ hospital visits
___ soul winning ___ altar calls ___ committee work
___ counseling ___ prayer ___ community leader
___ be a friend
PASTOR'S PRIORITIES
Prioritize the Pastors activities in order of importance
1. _______________________ 6. ____________________
2. _______________________ 7. ____________________
3. _______________________ 8. ____________________
4. _______________________ 9. ____________________
5. _______________________ 10. ____________________
PASTORAL PREACHING
What kind of preaching are you accustomed to? (place an "X")
What kind of preaching do you prefer? (Circle the item)
___Expositional ___Theological
___Textual topical ___Practical
___Topical ___Grace filled
___Problem solving ___Judgement filled
___No notes ___Illustrated
___From notes ___Straight exposition
___From a manuscript ___Deep
___Without humor ___Shallow
___With humor ___Witty
___Logical points ___Serious
___One main point ___Story telling
___Stationary ___Philosophical
___Animated ___Controversial
___Monotone ___Social
___Dynamic Inflection ___Deeper Life
___Loud ___Evangelistic
___Soft ___How to...
___Emotional ___Convicting
___Intellectual ___Comforting
What length of sermons are you accustomed to?
___20 min ___30 min ___ 40 min ___50 min ___60 min
What length of sermons do you prefer?
___20 min ___30 min ___ 40 min ___50 min ___60 min
PASTORAL EXPECTATIONS
Role of the pastor (philosopy of ministry)
(The church board, or board of elders should be able to articulate their
philosphy of what a pastor is and is to do...if not...beware!)
Job description (Is there a written one?)
Accountability (How is the pastor made accountable? Evaluated?)
Preaching schedule A.M. ______________ P.M. ______________
Sermons taped? ___________ tape library? ___________
Hours expected weekly _________ How divided? ___________Not_________
Day(s) off _____________
Counseling load ______________
Outside speaking ministries allowed? ___________________wks per year?
Training Seminars ? _______________per year
Continuing Education ______________wks or days per year
Expectations on the pastor's family?_________________________________
Expectations on the pastor's wife? __________________________________
Expectations on the pastor's children? ______________________________
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5. MINISTRY (CHURCH BODY)
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What is the MAIN MINISTRY strength of this church?
(its drawing power, what attracts people?)
_____________________________________________________________________
Missions statement (of purpose)
A> CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
- How many S. School classes for children?
- Do you have trouble finding teachers?
- Are teachers trained?
- Do you have a regular teacher training program?
- How many children attend S.S. 0 - 12 years old
- Do you have a Nursery?
- Toddler church
- Primary or Junior church?
- VBS?
- Club program / Brigade/ Awana?
B> YOUTH MINISTRIES
- Do you have adult youth sponsors? Youth Pastor?
- Junior High group? How many?
- Senior High group? How many?
- Do you have S.School classes for Jr & Sr High?
- When do the youth groups meet? How often?
- Are there regualar social/sports events for youth?
- Are the youth involved in the life of the church? How?
___Choir ___ Prayer Mtg ___ Drama ___ Puppets ___ other ____________
C> ADULT MINISTRIES
- How many adult S.School classes? __________ Age grouped or topical?
- Do you have qualified and gifted adult teachers?
- How many adults attend?
- Home Bible Studies? _______ How many? _______
- Care Groups? _________ How many? ___________ How often? _________
- Do you have any interest group meetings:
___ weight watchers ___ arobics ___ Al Anonymous ___single parents
Other _______________________________________________________________
Is there a yearly Adult Retreat or Couples Retreat? _________________
D> EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES
- Do you have an active Evangelism Committee or Team?
- What types of evangelism is the church carrying out?
E.E. ___ Scripture Distribution ___ Radio ___ Newspaper ___
Direct mail ___ Phones For You ___ Tracts ___ Door to door ____
Visitation ___ Outdoor Services ___ Community Events ___ Events _____
Special Services ____ Concerts ____ Neighborhood Bible Studies ____
- Are people being saved? ___ How many last year?____ Year before___
- How are people coming to Christ? (What evangelistic tool works?)
_____________________________________________________________________
E> WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRIES
- What kind of music do you use in worship services?
____ Traditional ____ Hymns _____ Choruses ____ Contemporary ____
- How would you describe your worship services.
____ Formal ____ Informal ____ Quiet ____ Liturgical ____ Exciting
____ Worshipful ____ Inspiring ____ Free ____ Orderly ____ Noisey
Other _______________ _________________ __________________
Instrument used in worship? Organ ______ Piano _______ Guitar _____
Drums ______ Brass instruments _____ Choir _____
F> OTHER MINISTRIES
___ WMPF
___ Alliance Men
___ Newsletter
___ Publication
___ Radio
___ TV
___ Seminars
___ Special Services
___ Shut-ins
___ Counseling
___ Food & Clothing
___ Christian School
___ Nursery School
___ Day Care
___ Sports
___ Other
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Missions Conferences FALL? _______ WINTER? _______ Other? _______
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6. VISION AND GOALS
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- Do you have a Missions Statement (Statement of purpose)
- Have you planned for future growth and ministry?
- Do you have a 5 year plan _______ 10 year plan? __________
- Do you have specific written, measurable goals? __________
- What are they?
1. ______________________________ 6. ___________________________
2. ______________________________ 7. ___________________________
3. ______________________________ 8. ___________________________
4. ______________________________ 9. ___________________________
5. ______________________________ 10. ___________________________
What size do you want your church to be in...
1 years ____ 3 years ____ 5years ____ 10 years ____
What is the ideal & maximum size you desire? IDEAL _______ MAX _____
Do you have specific building plans for the near future _______
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7. PAY PACKAGE
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salary $__________ Conferences $_______________
car/gas $__________ Seminars Training $__________
insurance $__________ Study leave ?________days
IRA $__________ Vacation Time ?________wks
FICA $__________ Outside Speaking ?________wks
F. Fund $__________ Day Off ?______________
Total .........$__________
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8. HOUSING - PARSONAGE
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parsonage value $_________ size = large / med/ small
parsonage allowance $______ garage ____
stove ____ refrigerator ___ basement ____ finished ____
dishwasher ____ W & dryer ____ heating ______
rooms ______ airconditioning _____
baths ______ phone _____
carpeted ____ closets _____
fireplace ____ attic _____
rec rm _____ lawnmower ______
dining rm_____ appearance __________________
State of repair ____________________________________________________
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9. STAFF
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Paid = Secretary $_______ hrs ____ Volunteer = Organist _____
Custodian $_______ hrs ____ Pianist _____
Youth $_______ hrs ____ Choir dir _____
Other $_______ hrs ____ Song leader ____
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10. OTHER MATTERS
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Each pastoral candidate will have a variety of personal concerns about
the church and interpersonal relationships. We would encourage pastoral
candidates to look beyond what is said (or not said) to the attitudes behind
the answers. Seek to know the heart of the people to whom you may go.
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