Prayer, Process, and People: A Church’s Guide to Selecting a Pastor

This guide provides structured steps, tools, and templates to help congregations prayerfully, fairly, and effectively select a new pastor, ensuring both leadership and congregational input are valued throughout the process.

Source: National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.

AI Overview: This document is a resource guide from the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., created by the Moderators Auxiliary to assist churches in conducting a pastoral search.

Key Contents:

1. Guidelines for the Pastoral Search Process

   • Forming a representative search committee (including deacons, trustees, Christian education staff, youth, music ministry, and congregation members).

   • Developing and presenting a congregational survey to identify pastoral qualifications and expectations.

   • Publicizing the position through associations and conventions.

   • Establishing deadlines, reviewing resumes, narrowing candidates, and communicating decisions respectfully.

   • Organizing candidate visits, covering expenses, and involving the congregation in evaluations.

   • Preparing compensation packages and defining voting procedures.

   • Ensuring an impartial moderator oversees congregational meetings.

2. Sample Candidate Interview Questions

   • Covering vision for ministry, denominational relationships, church growth, finances, roles of leadership, strengths/weaknesses, doctrinal beliefs, leadership style, women in ministry, and willingness for background checks.

3. Sample Letters and Forms

   • Invitation letter for candidate visits.

   • Decline letter for applicants not chosen.

   • Candidate evaluation questionnaire for committee members (rating teaching, preaching, leadership, appearance, punctuality, etc.).

4. Congregational Survey Template

   • Collects preferences on pastor demographics, experience, availability, and ministry priorities.

   • Identifies desired qualities (e.g., preaching, pastoral care, youth ministry, evangelism, counseling, community involvement).

   • Asks about worship style, sermon type, ministry focus, and challenges for the new pastor.

Purpose:

The guide provides structured steps, tools, and templates to help congregations prayerfully, fairly, and effectively select a new pastor, ensuring both leadership and congregational input are valued throughout the process.