Episode Description: If a new job opportunity opens for your husband, are you equipped to help him prepare to meet with a church’s search team? Since pastors’ wives are usually part of these conversations, it’s important that we understand what to ask and what to listen for so we can support our husbands as we prayerfully consider these decisions together. Check out Married to the Ministry for effective strategies for managing the committee interview process.

Hello!

For the last several months, our daughter has been serving on the pastor search team for her church. She has a young baby and a job, and I tried to talk her out of agreeing to do it because I knew how much time it would take. But she wanted to do it, especially since she has the perspective of being a pastor’s kid. Sometimes she’ll call her dad and pick his brain about questions she should ask, things to consider, how to pray about different aspects of the search.

And I realized this was a great podcast topic! So my husband Greg joined me to talk through our experience with various church interviews. Here are some highlights from our conversation on navigating the search committee process.

Why are we qualified to talk about this?

We’ve gone through this process 6 times for jobs we did take and several other times for opportunities that didn’t seem like a good fit for us. As a denominational consultant and interim pastor for numerous churches, Greg has trained multiple search teams on how to effectively go through this process. In addition, as a lead pastor, he has hired multiple staff pastors to serve in our churches.

What should the wife’s role look like in this process?

I would start with two parameters. Every couple has to decide that differently in how you work through this process together, because everybody’s going to be a little bit different. First, it’s very important that we’re protective of our wives in the sense that there are no obligations on them. They are not interviewing for a job. Second, the wife should have a role and she should be able to participate in these conversations, at least during the early stage of getting to know each other. She may not need to be in the more technical church process discussions that may come later.

What goals should we be trying to accomplish in these interviews?

Our goal is getting to know each other. They want to know you and you want to know them. This is the group that you will spend most of your first year working with. Can you do that?
You are praying through a possible platform for ministry. Can you serve here? See people saved here? Can you work with them through the opportunities that exist in this ministry sphere?

What’s the best way to answer their questions?

You have to be straightforward. You have to tell them honestly. If you have a certain perspective, or if you have a particular ministry passion, you have to tell them that. Again, your goal is, are we going to fit? Is this a good ministry platform for me to serve? You’re not coming in there to fix the church or change the church.

if you have a certain passion or a certain way you do things, and they react negatively to that, that’s telling you you’re not going to fit there either. Don’t move your family there. You’ve got to have full disclosure, because if you do have a certain way of looking at things that doesn’t jive with them, it’s going to come out at some point. And if it comes out later after you’re there, that’s not going to go well.

What questions should we ask about the church?

Ask specific questions that will help you research the health, culture, and priorities of the church. These areas of information will be vital to your decision:

Constitution, by-laws
Budget
Attendance records that give info about actual demographic breakdown, number of baptisms, etc.
Any and all docs that clarify the theology of the church.
Assessment of the physical plant condition
Significant partnerships (with mission or community organizations, etc.)
How do they make decisions? What’s the role of various leadership groups? Who makes decisions about the staff? How do you hire/fire?
Discuss relationship with last couple of pastors
If there has been a struggle or difficult situation prior to your potential tenure, what happened? Where is the church on that journey now?

How do we evaluate if we are a good match for this church?

As you get more information and have more conversations, begin to shift the way you’re asking questions and listening to their responses.

First of all, be self-aware enough that you can really define who you are as a minister:

What is my passion in ministry?
What is my belief in how people grow to become like Jesus?
How do I preach and lead from the pulpit?
Do I have a passion for missions? If I do, is this a mission church? Are they even going to let me go on a mission trip? Do they have a mission budget?
What is my definition of discipleship?
Am I a people person who prefers “office hours” at the local coffee shop where I can strike up conversations with others or do I prefer hours everyday of quiet study time in my office?

Then, shape questions to determine where they are:

Is the congregation used to actively serving in ministry or do they expect the pastor and staff to do all the work?
What are their intentions for growth and their capacity for change? Sometimes churches portray themselves as who they want to be, which is not necessarily where they are yet. Sometimes they don’t understand how long change takes or how much growth costs. Will they be able to follow your lead and pace?
If there’s been a church struggle, what wounds still exist? What is their view of the healing process?
What are their “sacred cows”? For example certain type of music or dress code or a particular tradition or heritage they cling to.

As you try to determine those things, you have to apply some discernment and draw information out in good conversations with them, substantive conversations where you’re getting feel for that. And then you’re back to, am I grooving with that? Am I feeling the Lord affirm that, and that’s us or not? And so that conversation, that’s what guides you towards the end where you begin to determine, is God really calling us here or not?

When should the salary package be discussed?

After the initial meetings of getting to know each other and the search team considers you a legitimate candidate and you’re interested in moving forward with them. Do not be afraid to talk about money. If they haven’t brought it up, ask before you get to the end of the interview process. They need to know if they can afford you and you need to know if you can afford to go there, or everyone’s wasting their time.

Are you facing the church interview process?

If you’re in the middle of this type of job search situation, I hope this information helps you feel more equipped to navigate the process, how to support your husband, and how to feel confident during this journey.

If you’re not going through this right now, save the link to this episode so it will be easy to find when you are thinking about making a ministry job change.

As always, thanks for hanging out with me! Until next time, keep loving Jesus, loving your husband, and loving your people!

Navigating the Search Committee Process, with Greg Addison

Related Links and Product Info: Ep. 26: How to Know When It’s Time to Go, with Greg Addison