Candidating Questions

<BIG>PASTOR’S QUESTIONS FOR PROSEPECTIVE CHURCHES</BIG>

1. PAY PACKAGE

salary $__________ Conferences $_______________

car/gas $__________ Seminars Training $__________

insurance $__________ Study leave ?________days

IRA $__________ Vacation Time ?________wks

FICA $__________ Outside Speaking ?________wks

Expenses $__________ Day Off ?______________

Total .........$__________

Other benefits Offered:

2. HOUSING - PARSONAGE

parsonage value $_________ size = large / medium/ small

parsonage allowance $______ garage ____

stove ____ refrigerator ___ basement ____ finished ____

dishwasher ____ W & dryer ____ heating ______

rooms ______ air conditioning _____

baths ______ phone _____

carpeted ____ closets _____

fireplace ____ attic _____

rec rm _____ lawnmower ______

dining rm_____ appearance __________________

State of repair ____________________________________________________

3. STAFF

Paid = Secretary $_______ hrs ____ Volunteer = Organist _____

Custodian $_______ hrs ____ Pianist _____

Youth $_______ hrs ____ Choir dir _____

Others $_______ hrs ____ Song leader ____

4. CHURCH BUILDING

sanctuary ______ Sunday school rooms _________

seating cap ______ fellowship hall ________

attendance ______ gym _________

color ______ secretary office _______

lighting ______ pastors study ________

pew/chairs ______ equipment -

baptistery ______ typewriter ________

pulpit ______ computer ________

sound sys _____ printer ________

aesthetics ______ copier ________

foyer ______ phones ________

nursery ______ fax ________

bathrooms ______ projector/screen ______

floor plan ______ overhead ______

library ______ answering machine ________

meeting room ______ furnishings/tables/chairs _______

state of repair _____________________________________________________

5. ADMINISTRATION

Governing board/Church Council - members ____ deacons ____ others ___

Board Positions ___________ _____________ _____________ _____________

___________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

Committees ___________ _____________ _____________ _____________

___________ _____________ _____________ _____________ ____________

By-laws _________ copy ______

Annual report _________ copy ______

Policies __________ copy_______

Job descriptions ____ copy_______

Accountability & reporting _________________________________________

Budget previous year 200___ ____________

Budget current year 200___ ____________

Income 2002___ general fund ____________

missions _____________

building _____________

other _____________

Escrow accounts _____________________

Debts $________________ $___________________ $___________________

Members _______________ Regular Visitors _________________

Legal matters pending ______________________________________________

6. HISTORY

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 issues/struggles exist in the church today that a prospective pastor needs to know about?

Others -

What is the church's traditional stand on ...

Divorce & Remarriage

Charismatic Movement

Legalism (do's & don'ts)

Women in Ministry

Abortion

Church Discipline

7. PASTORAL MINISTRY

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. _______________________ 4. ____________________

2. _______________________ 5. ____________________

3. _______________________ 6. ____________________

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 ___Judgment 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 (philosophy of ministry)(The church board, or board of elders should be able to articulate their philosophy of what a pastor is and is to do.

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?

Stipend/Love Offering from outside speaking goes to:________________

Training Seminars ? _______________per year

Continuing Education ______________wks or days per year

Seminars and/or Continuing Education paid for by_____________________

Expectations on the pastor's family?_________________________________

Expectations on the pastor's wife? __________________________________

Expectations on the pastor's children? ______________________________

8. MINISTRY (CHURCH BODY)

What is the MAIN MINISTRY strength of this church? its drawing power, what attracts people?)

_____________________________________________________________________

Missions statement (of purpose)

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?

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 regular social/sports events for youth?

- Are the youth involved in the life of the church? How?

___Choir ___ Prayer Mtg ___ Drama ___ Puppets ___ other ____________

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 ___ aerobics ___ Al Anonymous ___single parents

___Purpose Driven

Other _______________________________________________________________

Is there a yearly Adult Retreat or Couples Retreat? _________________

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?)

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 ____ Noisy

Other _______________ _________________ __________________

Instrument used in worship? Organ ______ Piano _______ Guitar _____

Drums ______ Brass instruments _____ Choir _____

Is there an active Choir?

Is there an active Praise and Worship Team?

OTHER MINISTRIES

___ Promise Keepers

___ 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? _______

9. VISION AND GOALS

- 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 _______

10. COMMUNITY

How would you describe your community?

Do you feel safe in your community?

What is the strength of your community?

What is the average age of your community?

What is their home life? (married with children at home, single, married with children in college, retired, young couples with no children, etc)

11. OTHER ISSUES

What other issues in the life of your church do you feel that a prospective pastor and family need to know before accepting a call to your church?

Is the leadership of the church open to change?

Including making a few mistakes along the way?

Are there one or two dominate families or people in the church? (Who makes the decisions, provides the funding, etc.)

Who is in charge of the church?

What are the ideas or plans for the future of the church?

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. The information you have provided will help any prospective pastor as he seeks God’s guidance and, hopefully, was a beneficial exercise for your church body. May God richly bless you as you seek His appointed one to lead His church.