LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
General Pastor Interview Questions
A Paper Submitted to
the Faculty of the School of Divinity
in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (Ed. D) Department of Christian Leadership and
Church Ministries
By
Mary Gracias
Lynchburg, Virginia
9/2022
General Pastor Interview Questions
There are several general questions to ask pastoral candidates. The following questions for
pastor interviews give insight into the candidate's beliefs, personality and leadership style.
How Do You Respond to Criticism?
Oftentimes and for whatever reason, pastors receive criticism. So, candidates should be
asked how they respond to it.
First, it gives the opportunity for candidates to share their own thoughts about what it
means for them. Second, it allows you to hear how they would respond in a specific situation.
Third, it provides insight into how the candidate thinks and responds to situations that might
come up in their pastoral ministry.
What Is the Most Important Thing to Do During Your First Year with a Church?
The answer to this question can provide insight into how pastoral candidates prioritize
their work. The answer can also give an idea of how they would approach their work and what
they are looking for in a church.
The first year of work is a critical time for a new pastor. The most important thing to do
during this time is to get familiar with the church, its members and its mission. The answer
should show they are committed to the mission and how they will be able to help it grow.
How Should the Church Engage in Mission Work?
This is one of those pastor interview questions that helps to get a sense of what the
candidate thinks about the church's role in mission work. It also helps you get a sense of how
they would lead.
It is important to ask this question because it demonstrates the person has thought about
how the church should engage in mission work. Some candidates may go into extensive detail,
showing they have given deep thought how to do so.
What are Your Strengths?
The answer to this question is important because it tells you how well they will be able to
contribute to a team setting. You’ll get a better idea of the candidate’s skill set, how they will
contribute to the church and how well they will be able to communicate with your
congregation.
Pastors have a lot to offer in the church and beyond. Pastors can preach, lead a
congregation and provide spiritual guidance. They are also given the opportunity to build
relationships with their community members.
Some of the most common strengths pastors might consider their strengths include:
Empathy
People skills
Ability to build relationships
Creativity
Extensive knowledge of different religions
Deep understanding of scripture
What Are Your Weaknesses?
This is a common question in pretty much every job interview, and it’s no different here. It
helps the candidate identify areas in which they can grow and develop. It also gives you an idea
of how your candidate works and what he or she needs to do to grow to be more successful in
this role.
It's important for you to listen to the weaknesses and consider them. Is the candidate and
his or her weaknesses a good fit for your church?
What Is Your Leadership Style?
The leadership style of a pastoral candidate is an important factor to consider when hiring
them. Adding this to your pastor interview questions will help you understand how they will
lead your team and will be able to handle certain situations. Pastoral candidates are the
backbone of churches, and it is important to find the right one for your church.
There are many leadership styles for pastors to apply. The best style for pastors is one that
is effective and productive. Styles may change from church to church, depending on the needs
of the congregation.
The best way to lead a church is to be a servant leader. A servant leader does not use their
position to control others or make decisions for them. Instead, they use their position as a
means of serving the needs of those under them and making sure they can reach their full
potential. This type of leadership style also helps create an environment where people feel safe
and encouraged in what they are doing.
So, the answer to this question is an important one. What leadership style do you want for
your church?
What Measures Do You Have in Place for Accountability?
Accountability is a key component of pastoral ministry. Pastoral candidates must take
personal accountability for their actions and decisions.
Pastoral candidates should be able to demonstrate they have a plan in place for
transparency and accountability. They should also be able to show how their past experience
will help them succeed in this role and how committed they are to being accountable.
What Measures Should Be in Place for Staff Accountability?
Staff accountability is a vital part of any organization. It is important to ask pastor interview
questions like this to see what measures should be in place for staff accountability. This
question is a way of assessing if the candidate has thought about accountability measures... and
if they have, how they will be able to address them.
It’s not just about them having a staff accountability plan. It’s also about the congregation
being able to have an idea of what that plan looks like and how they can hold their pastor
accountable.
What Responsibility Do You Feel the Church Has to Serve the Community?
This question is important because it allows them to demonstrate their understanding of
the church’s role in society. It also reveals how they view the church’s responsibility to the
community and helps them determine if they are a good fit for your church.
The question is important because it helps you know if a candidate is willing to serve their
community, not just themselves. It also determines what kind of contribution the person wants
to make to the community.
How Can the Church Best Support You and/or Your Family?
The church should be able to provide a safe place where people feel accepted and loved.
Pastoral candidates want a church that will support them in their faith journey as well as help
them learn more about it.
This question provides an opportunity for the candidate to talk about their life and what
they need from the church. They might have some specific needs related to their family or
personal life to discuss. These needs may or may not have been met in the past.
What Motivates You as a Pastor?
We know that pastoral candidates have several motivations for becoming pastors. Some
are in it for the money, some for the glory and some because God call them to be pastors. The
question of what motivates them is important to ask to understand what they are looking for
from the church.
For the most part, pastoral candidate motivations are broken down into three categories:
Spiritual: It is about finding a church that has a deep understanding of spiritual matters
and has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
Social: It is about finding an environment where they can make friends and build
relationships with people who share their values
Financial: It is about finding an environment where they are paid well and have
opportunities to grow professionally
How Do You Cope with Stress?
Stress is a normal human experience, but it can be overwhelming and difficult to manage if
you don't have the right coping skills. So, it’s important to pastor interview questions like this to
see how they deal with stress since it has effects on their well-being.
This question will allow candidates to show their strengths and weaknesses in managing
stress. It will also give you insights into how they would respond in high-pressure situations.
Who Are Your Spiritual Role Models?
Finding out who a person’s spiritual role model is can give you a better idea of how they
are going to lead the congregation.
This question is also a great way to help you understand what their faith means to a
person, their values and what they believe in and how they think about spiritual leadership.
What Are Your Long-Term Career Goals?
Long-term career goals are important to consider for potential candidates. The answer
gives candidates an opportunity to share their passions and motivations with you. They also
discuss what they want from their work.
The more you learn about candidates, the better you'll be able to make a sound decision
about who is the best fit.
The interviewee might want to use this opportunity to tell you about their long-term career
goals. Their hopes and dreams for the future reveal a lot about who they are and how long they
will stay with your church. It also gives you insight into how they think about ministry and what
their future plans might look like.
Is There Anything in Your Background Check You Want to Discuss?
If you are interviewing a candidate for a pastoral position, you should ask them this
question. You should also listen carefully to what they have to say. If they have something that
they feel uncomfortable discussing with you, or they are stumbling through their answer, get
some clarity. If there is something hidden in their past, it may be time to move on from the
interview process.
Pastor Interview Questions About Theological and Ethical Activities
Asking a pastoral candidate about theological and ethical practices is a must for churches.
The following questions will give you insight into their idealities:
Describe a Personal Experience That Shaped Your Personal Theology
Life experiences shape our personal theologies, both good and bad. Our religious
upbringing or even spiritual practices that we engage in daily also influences it. This question
will help the candidate dig deeper into their beliefs.
It also helps you understand candidates on a deeper level. Knowing more about their ethics
and theologies gives you a clearer understanding of how they will lead the church. The answer
to this question can also help them determine whether they would be a good fit for their
position.
To What Degree Do You Differ from the Historical Doctrinal Positions of This Church?
The question is a great way to get a sense of how well someone understands your church's
history and theology. This question can also give you a sense of how they view themselves in
relation to their denomination.
Describe Several Ethical Principles That Guide Your Work
It is important to ask this, making sure the pastoral candidate understands the moral and
ethical implications of their work. It also helps you decide whether they are a good fit.
When you ask them about how they would approach a particular situation, it allows you to
know more about the person's personality. It also helps you understand how they will react in
certain situations. The following are a few ethical examples you could bring up as an example:
Respect for others and for the environment
Integrity in relationships
Responsibility over power
Equality and justice
