Posted by Todd Rhoades in Staffing
on Jan 15th, 2013 | 5 comments
The following is an excellent list of pastor interview questions. Although this is written from a very conservative baptist perspective, there are a lot of great questions here… feel free to modify to your situation and particular interview.
Pastor Interview Questions (sample list):
- There are many who profess to know Christ who are mistaken. What evidences do you have that you have been given life by God?
- What does it mean for a person to love God? In what ways do you see true biblical love toward God demonstrated in your life? Do you see true biblical love toward God in the lives of your wife and each of your children?
- How does your wife feel about your commitment to pastoring?
- Why do you believe God wants you in the pastorate?
- Closely examine each of the Bible’s qualifications for pastors and deacons (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1:5-9; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). Which are you strongest qualities? With which requirements do you have the most trouble? Why do you believe these areas of difficulty do not presently disqualify you from ministering? (Note the phrase “must be” in 1 Tim. 3:2.)
- A pastor is charged by God to preach to the church and to shepherd the people in a more individual way. Which aspect of the ministry appeals to you the most? What are some specific ways you could be helped to develop your skills in either of these areas?
- What are your methods for involving yourself in the lives of your people as their shepherd and overseer of their souls?
- What activities characterize your evangelistic interest? What is your approach to personal evangelism? corporate evangelism?
- What is your approach to counseling? How do you handle your counseling load?
- What are your specific and regular practices regarding the spiritual disciplines (e.g., personal prayer, Bible study, meditation, stewardship, learning, etc.)?
Read the other pastor interview questions here: 55 Questions for a Prospective Pastor.
This isn’t from a “very conservative baptist” perspective…this is from a “Calvinists continuing to try to take over Baptists by, in part, rewriting Baptist history” perspective.
Not wanting to start trouble….just wanting accuracy!
From the hard lessons learned department: Don’t depend on lists of questions when hiring. Anybody can formulate answers to typical interview questions. Instead, get the basics out of the way – relationship with God…theology…marriage…etc. Then lean more heavily on performance-based hiring. Spend time digging into what they’ve done in the past and what they would propose doing in your situation.
As a female pastor I would encourage you to change the wife to spouse.
With all due respect Ms. York, this would not be a necessary change because according to The Baptist Faith and Message, most Baptist churches would never allow a woman to be a pastor.
VI. The Church
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.
Once the prospective pastor has satisfied all of these questions all that remains is for the church to call him and change ABSOLUTELY nothing about who they are and what they do. When they die out by age or irrelevancy they will have only themselves to thank.