flossbling
New Member
what sort of questions should be asked when interviewing a pastoral candidate?
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interview question?
- Thread starter flossbling
- Start date
1) Which of the 5 points of the TULIP does he disagree with?
2) Does he accept that he must submit to the authority of the congregates and the governing leaders they choose?
3) Which bible translations would he prefer to be used in the church.
4) Describe how your life changed when you become a born again believer?
5) Did Jesus actually rise from the dead, or is that a quaint story?
6) Did God create the heavens and the earth in 6 literal 24 hour days about 7000 years ago?
There are no right answers to these questions, only answers that agree with the views of the selection committee. A Pastoral candidate who evades these questions, who provides ambiguous answers and says he is willing teach middle of the road doctrine would not be my candidate of choice.
2) Does he accept that he must submit to the authority of the congregates and the governing leaders they choose?
3) Which bible translations would he prefer to be used in the church.
4) Describe how your life changed when you become a born again believer?
5) Did Jesus actually rise from the dead, or is that a quaint story?
6) Did God create the heavens and the earth in 6 literal 24 hour days about 7000 years ago?
There are no right answers to these questions, only answers that agree with the views of the selection committee. A Pastoral candidate who evades these questions, who provides ambiguous answers and says he is willing teach middle of the road doctrine would not be my candidate of choice.
Last edited by a moderator:
When were you saved? How were you saved?
Could you explain Election?
Define atonement
Some of these are basic questions. Some of these may or may not apply based on what is important to your church. The candidate should expect to pretty much be an open book. His failures and how he handles them is an important indication of character and maturity.
Ask for a personal testimony. You want to know how the man was saved and how he was called to ministry.
Ask about his wife and how she supports and confirms his call.
What's his personal devotion and prayer commitment like?
What needs does his family have?
What does he believe about the Bible?
Confirm his character according to what Paul wrote Timothy and Titus:
Ask about his kids and home life. If divorced dig into that.
Ask about his work history (secular and clerical).
Ask about finances.
Doctrine and related issues:
If your church is KJVO...ask about that.
If tattoos are important to your church...ask.
Is he a Doctrines of Grace guy? Or Free will? Somewhere in the middle?
I am convinced that hard questions and possible divisive issues need to be addressed right up front in order to avoid future controversy. Get as much out on the table as possible. That means you can save a lot of wasted time if there is disagreement or issues involving an essential belief or practice. It also means that if you agree to move forward nothing is hidden from the people. It also means you can plan or work through problems or concerns early.
For example, this morning I had a phone call from a search committee rep wanting to share some info about his church with me. It didn't take long and I learned about some of their struggles and he told me in the past they were a KJV church. I stopped him and asked if they were still a KJV church and let him know I was not a KJVO guy. He asked what I preach from. I told him I usually preach from the NASB, but I use several (including KJV) in my study. The conversation came to a gracious end.
Had the discussion continued and the KJV was not going to be an issue I would have been open with him about my tattoos and my divorce in 1995.
I am a huge fan of transparency on both sides from the start.
Ask for a personal testimony. You want to know how the man was saved and how he was called to ministry.
Ask about his wife and how she supports and confirms his call.
What's his personal devotion and prayer commitment like?
What needs does his family have?
What does he believe about the Bible?
Confirm his character according to what Paul wrote Timothy and Titus:
Ask about his kids and home life. If divorced dig into that.
Ask about his work history (secular and clerical).
Ask about finances.
Doctrine and related issues:
If your church is KJVO...ask about that.
If tattoos are important to your church...ask.
Is he a Doctrines of Grace guy? Or Free will? Somewhere in the middle?
I am convinced that hard questions and possible divisive issues need to be addressed right up front in order to avoid future controversy. Get as much out on the table as possible. That means you can save a lot of wasted time if there is disagreement or issues involving an essential belief or practice. It also means that if you agree to move forward nothing is hidden from the people. It also means you can plan or work through problems or concerns early.
For example, this morning I had a phone call from a search committee rep wanting to share some info about his church with me. It didn't take long and I learned about some of their struggles and he told me in the past they were a KJV church. I stopped him and asked if they were still a KJV church and let him know I was not a KJVO guy. He asked what I preach from. I told him I usually preach from the NASB, but I use several (including KJV) in my study. The conversation came to a gracious end.
Had the discussion continued and the KJV was not going to be an issue I would have been open with him about my tattoos and my divorce in 1995.
I am a huge fan of transparency on both sides from the start.
Would you disclose your alcholism or past drug addiction to them?
Do they need to know your selection of clothing (both in the street & during services)
Selection of toothpaste (constantant arguements in our household) Note: I prefer Crest w Floride, Baking Soda & Peroxide & the wife prefers some Aquafresh concotion.
& I hope those tats are military themes! :thumbs:
All joking aside, I would really want to delve deep into the redemptive beliefs of the prospect. Did Christ come to make the salvation of all humans possible, to remove obstacles that stand in the way of salvation & to make provision for salvation?
or, did he come to save His people?
In other words, was Christ's work on the cross a hypothetical salvation for hypothetical believers or a real & definite salvation for God's own chosen people?
How the prospect answers is what would give me insight into his faith beliefs.
or, did he come to save His people?
In other words, was Christ's work on the cross a hypothetical salvation for hypothetical believers or a real & definite salvation for God's own chosen people?
How the prospect answers is what would give me insight into his faith beliefs.
My "Jonah" time when I was a drunk is part of my testimony.
I have 3 tats. One bald eagle (right deltoid), one mountain scene with a wolf closing in in the reeds (right shoulder blade), and the reference Romans 8:28-30 (which is on my left forearm). The third one is the only one regularly seen. My next one will be the reference Ephesians 2:10 on my right forearm....when I have a spare $40 laying around to do it.
I still need to get my 1ID and my airborne tats.
I was informed recently that the Marine Corps does NOT take anyone with tats. What do you think? :smilewinkgrin:
OldRegular
Well-Known Member
Very political position...one I wouldnt want. & this is what you call church!?! That in itself is laughable.
Think about it a minute.... probably a very relevant question if the prospect is interviewing in California
flossbling
New Member
Very good. I agree on the transparency part- what is covered shall be revealed and at the worst possible moment for both parties.
salzer mtn
Well-Known Member
I would put him in the pulpit for a period of time and you can gather more from that than asking him about a lot of do you believe this or that questions. If he don't preach the sovereign grace of God you couldn't pay me to listen to him.
Then you give him a one way bus ticket to California (where the rest of them live) .....keep him off the east coast! LOL
We all can read and know, in our hearts, what the Constitution says, but the sad reality is it only means what the Supreme Court says it means. The selection committee can only make sure the candidate's professed views match the consensus of the committee, so if they want a Pastor who is liberal, they would like the one that denies the bodily resurrection of Christ.
I know lots of feeble minded folk believe they know stuff, but they only know what they believe they know is true. But I would only know that if I too were feeble-minded. What separates the men from the boys are the ones that still fully trust in what they believe is true, even though though they did not share a broiled fish breakfast with the risen Christ.
Tell us about how you make disciples. The point is that if he i snot leading others than how can he lead a church. That question will give a lot of insight into what his focus is and how he does ministry.
North Carolina Tentmaker
New Member
This most important question flossbling, is not for the candidate, but for the church. What do you believe and what do you expect from a pastor?
If your church statement of belief and pastors job description are not complete then you are not ready to interview a candidate. Once you are simply ask him the same thing and see how they match up. It will quickly be evident which candidates to pursue and which not to waste time on.
If your church statement of belief and pastors job description are not complete then you are not ready to interview a candidate. Once you are simply ask him the same thing and see how they match up. It will quickly be evident which candidates to pursue and which not to waste time on.