‘Job’ Interview Tips for Pastors

There are literally thousands of books, articles, and Web sites that give you tips and advice for interviewing for a job … but for fledging pastors — maybe those just graduating from seminary — the resources are scarce.

I had the opportunity to interview two outstanding sources for an article for Rick Warren’s Pastors.com about this subject … here is a summarized version of the article (Read the full version here).

Scott Phillips of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma suggests the following tips when a pastor is interviewing with a church:

1. Talk to the church’s former pastors and denominational leaders.
2. Ask the committee what their vision for the future is.
3. Ask to see their bylaws and constitution.
4. Ask them to describe the style, philosophy of pastoral leadership they are looking for.

Dr. Earl Creps of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary offers these five questions to ask yourself:

1. “Does this situation fit my giftedness?”
2. “Can I work with those who have power in this church if I am elected?”
3. “Are they really understanding me, and am I really understanding them?”
4. “What is this church’s theory of ministry?”
5. “How much of what I have experienced can be chalked up to their inexperience?”

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