For 19 months I searched for the right Senior Pastor position before I landed at New Life Bible Church in Norman, Oklahoma. During my search I found that every church has a different interview process. At some point during their very thorough interviews each church will ask the potential candidate, “do you have any questions?” I’ve been asking some of my colleagues what questions they ask churches when they are being interviewed and I’m surprised that many of them haven’t really thought about it much.
If you’re seeking a position in a church like I am, I encourage you to make a list of questions that you’d like ask the churches who interview you. Below I’ve listed 30 questions that are important to me. Take a look at them and let me know what you’d add or change.
Most of all, remember that every interview is a two-way-street. As a potential staff member you should do your homework and make sure all of your questions are answered. Before ever accepting a position at any organization you should know who you’re going to work for. Do this hard work up front so you’ll be more likely to work at the right place.
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My Interview Questions for Churches:
- How old is your church?
- What denomination, if any, is your church affiliated with?
- Please describe your church’s top three strengths.
- How many senior pastors have you had in your church’s history?
- Are you comfortable with me contacting your last Senior Pastor? If yes, please provide his contact information. If no, please explain.
- How many people regularly attend your church? What percentage of that number is adults, kids, and youth?
- Would you describe your church’s attendance as growing, plateaued, or declining? Why?
- What is your annual budget?
- What percentage of the budget is designated for denominational giving?
- What percentage of the budget is designated for missions?
- What percentage of the budget is designated for facilities (mortgage, cleaning, utilities, etc.)?
- What percentage of the budget is designated for staff salaries?
- How much debt does the church currently carry?
- How many people are on your staff? Part time? Full time?
- Please describe your church’s current small group strategy (Sunday School, in homes, etc.).
- What percentage of your weekend attendance is currently active in small groups?
- Was your answer to the previous question your best guess or a definitive number?
- What did you like best about your previous pastor?
- What was your greatest frustration with your previous pastor?
- Ideally, how many times per year would you like your new Senior Pastor to preach (including mid-week services)?
- What type(s) of sermon does your church prefer on a weekly basis (verse-by-verse expository, topical, topical-expository, inspirational, evangelistic, etc.)? Why?
- On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your church’s evangelistic effectiveness? Why?
- On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the Bible knowledge of the average attender at your church? Why?
- On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your church’s effectiveness at making disciples? Why?
- On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the “fellowship” in your church? Why?
- On a scale of 1-10, 1 being very traditional and 10 being very progressive (edgy), how would you rate your church’s “style” of ministry and worship? Why?
- On a scale of 1-10, 1 being very churchy and 10 being very business-like, how would you rate your church’s business model? Why?
- Not including “finding a new pastor”, what are the three greatest issues facing your church today? Why?
- Describe a significant change your church made in the last 3 years. Why was the change made? How difficult was that change for the church? Has the change had positive/negative results? Why?
- Just for fun, imagine you are playing in a fantasy church league. If you could hand-pick (draft) any one nationally known Senior Pastor for your church, who would you choose and why (i.e. Rick Warren, Ed Young, Andy Stanley, Matt Chandler, Craig Groeschel, Francis Chan, etc.)?