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Home  >  Articles  >  Alexander, Paul



Pastoring FAQ's


9Marks -
What kind of questions do you ask in the membership interview?
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  • Give us a 60 second overview of the membership process at CHBC.
  • What do you think is the most important consideration in taking in new members? Why do you think that? How do you ensure that it’s handled correctly?
  • What do you want potential members to know about the church from the start? Why do you want them to know about these things so early on?
  • Do you encourage new members to start serving in the church immediately? Why (not)?
  • What are some pitfalls to avoid in taking in new members?
How do you handle baby dedications?
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  • What do you say to couples who want their babies dedicated?
  • What are you trying to accomplish in a baby dedication?
  • How do you clarify that the dedication is neither salvific nor a baptism?
How do you care for home-bound seniors?
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  • Do you view visitation of the home-bound as primarily the pastor's responsibility or primarily the congregation's responsibility? Do you do most of that kind of visitation?
  • When you've visited home-bound members in the past, how long have the visits lasted, what kinds of things would you talk about?
  • Do you usually take someone with you or go alone?
  • Do you think it's useful to invite non-staff members of the church to come with you on visits to the home-bound?
How do you care for members out of the area?
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  • Who do you put in the catagory of members outside of the area?
  • Are there ways that you encourage the remaining members to promote the spiritual health of those who are out of the area?
How do churches find good pastors?
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  • What are some important questions you think congregations should be asking pastoral candidates?
  • Do you think it is wise for nominating comittees to ask for a hundred or so resumes before making a decision?
  • Do you think the nominating committee is the best vehicle for choosing a pastor? Why not?
How do aspiring pastors find hopeful church situations?
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  • When a pastor's interested in a reforming situation where there needs to be work done, what are some important indicators that a pastor can be looking for in that church situation?
  • What are some important question pastors should ask of the congregation?
  • How can studying a prospective church's history aid a future pastor?
  • What are some other ways you can become a student of the church's history?
How can prospective pastors best use the time leading up to a new pastorate?
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  • What kind of documents were you trying to get ready when you were first waiting to come here?
  • What are some helpful prayers to pray for a church you might be starting to pastor?
  • Were you trying to prepare any public teaching of the church?
How can prospective pastors think wisely about financial matters?
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  • What are some good questions to ask churches about their finances?
  • Should pastors always be poor?
  • How should a prospective pastor respond when offered a seemingly inadequate salary by a small church?
What do you think are some important disclosures that a prospective pastor ought to make to the church he is candidating with?
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What are some ways pastoral candidates can shepherd congregations even before becoming their pastor?
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How can new pastors of smaller churches best use their time?
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  • What do you see as the connection between preaching, praying, and developing personal relationships?
What do you think about time off for the pastor?
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  • How does a church make care for the pastor happen?
  • How do you handle getting weekly rest?