1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Featured interview question?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by flossbling, Jan 3, 2013.

  1. flossbling

    flossbling New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2012
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    what sort of questions should be asked when interviewing a pastoral candidate?
     
  2. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2011
    Messages:
    26,913
    Likes Received:
    1,017
    Faith:
    Baptist
    1) Which of the 5 points of the TULIP does he disagree with?

    2) Does he accept that he must submit to the authority of the congregates and the governing leaders they choose?

    3) Which bible translations would he prefer to be used in the church.

    4) Describe how your life changed when you become a born again believer?

    5) Did Jesus actually rise from the dead, or is that a quaint story?

    6) Did God create the heavens and the earth in 6 literal 24 hour days about 7000 years ago?

    There are no right answers to these questions, only answers that agree with the views of the selection committee. A Pastoral candidate who evades these questions, who provides ambiguous answers and says he is willing teach middle of the road doctrine would not be my candidate of choice.
     
    #2 Van, Jan 3, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 3, 2013
  3. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,373
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    When were you saved? How were you saved?

    Could you explain Election?

    Define atonement
     
  4. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    Some of these are basic questions. Some of these may or may not apply based on what is important to your church. The candidate should expect to pretty much be an open book. His failures and how he handles them is an important indication of character and maturity.

    Ask for a personal testimony. You want to know how the man was saved and how he was called to ministry.
    Ask about his wife and how she supports and confirms his call.
    What's his personal devotion and prayer commitment like?
    What needs does his family have?
    What does he believe about the Bible?

    Confirm his character according to what Paul wrote Timothy and Titus:
    Ask about his kids and home life. If divorced dig into that.
    Ask about his work history (secular and clerical).
    Ask about finances.

    Doctrine and related issues:
    If your church is KJVO...ask about that.
    If tattoos are important to your church...ask.
    Is he a Doctrines of Grace guy? Or Free will? Somewhere in the middle?


    I am convinced that hard questions and possible divisive issues need to be addressed right up front in order to avoid future controversy. Get as much out on the table as possible. That means you can save a lot of wasted time if there is disagreement or issues involving an essential belief or practice. It also means that if you agree to move forward nothing is hidden from the people. It also means you can plan or work through problems or concerns early.

    For example, this morning I had a phone call from a search committee rep wanting to share some info about his church with me. It didn't take long and I learned about some of their struggles and he told me in the past they were a KJV church. I stopped him and asked if they were still a KJV church and let him know I was not a KJVO guy. He asked what I preach from. I told him I usually preach from the NASB, but I use several (including KJV) in my study. The conversation came to a gracious end.

    Had the discussion continued and the KJV was not going to be an issue I would have been open with him about my tattoos and my divorce in 1995.

    I am a huge fan of transparency on both sides from the start.
     
  5. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,373
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Would you disclose your alcholism or past drug addiction to them?

    Do they need to know your selection of clothing (both in the street & during services)

    Selection of toothpaste (constantant arguements in our household) Note: I prefer Crest w Floride, Baking Soda & Peroxide & the wife prefers some Aquafresh concotion.

    & I hope those tats are military themes! :thumbs:
     
  6. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,373
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    All joking aside, I would really want to delve deep into the redemptive beliefs of the prospect. Did Christ come to make the salvation of all humans possible, to remove obstacles that stand in the way of salvation & to make provision for salvation?

    or, did he come to save His people?

    In other words, was Christ's work on the cross a hypothetical salvation for hypothetical believers or a real & definite salvation for God's own chosen people?

    How the prospect answers is what would give me insight into his faith beliefs.
     
  7. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    My "Jonah" time when I was a drunk is part of my testimony.




    I have 3 tats. One bald eagle (right deltoid), one mountain scene with a wolf closing in in the reeds (right shoulder blade), and the reference Romans 8:28-30 (which is on my left forearm). The third one is the only one regularly seen. My next one will be the reference Ephesians 2:10 on my right forearm....when I have a spare $40 laying around to do it.

    I still need to get my 1ID and my airborne tats.
     
  8. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,373
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I was informed recently that the Marine Corps does NOT take anyone with tats. What do you think? :smilewinkgrin:
     
  9. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    Are you saying that there is no correct answer to the question?
     
  10. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,373
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Very political position...one I wouldnt want. & this is what you call church!?! That in itself is laughable.
     
  11. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,373
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Think about it a minute.... probably a very relevant question if the prospect is interviewing in California
     
  12. flossbling

    flossbling New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2012
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    what is TULIP?
     
  13. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    TULIP is the acronym for the Doctrines of Grace or the 5 points of Calvinism

    Total Depravity
    Unconditional Election
    Limited Atonement
    Irresistible Grace
    Perseverance of the Saints
     
  14. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    Messages:
    7,051
    Likes Received:
    3
    Good questions except:

    #1. I would pose the question in the positive rather than the negative. (Of course I know that you will disagree.)

    #6. I do not see a literal 6 day creation as a "make or break" issue.
     
  15. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    Messages:
    7,051
    Likes Received:
    3
    Very good. I agree on the transparency part- what is covered shall be revealed and at the worst possible moment for both parties.
     
  16. salzer mtn

    salzer mtn Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2012
    Messages:
    1,581
    Likes Received:
    29
    I would put him in the pulpit for a period of time and you can gather more from that than asking him about a lot of do you believe this or that questions. If he don't preach the sovereign grace of God you couldn't pay me to listen to him.
     
  17. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,373
    Likes Received:
    1,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Then you give him a one way bus ticket to California (where the rest of them live) .....keep him off the east coast! LOL
     
  18. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2011
    Messages:
    26,913
    Likes Received:
    1,017
    Faith:
    Baptist
    We all can read and know, in our hearts, what the Constitution says, but the sad reality is it only means what the Supreme Court says it means. The selection committee can only make sure the candidate's professed views match the consensus of the committee, so if they want a Pastor who is liberal, they would like the one that denies the bodily resurrection of Christ.

    I know lots of feeble minded folk believe they know stuff, but they only know what they believe they know is true. But I would only know that if I too were feeble-minded. What separates the men from the boys are the ones that still fully trust in what they believe is true, even though though they did not share a broiled fish breakfast with the risen Christ. :)
     
  19. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2003
    Messages:
    15,549
    Likes Received:
    15
    Tell us about how you make disciples. The point is that if he i snot leading others than how can he lead a church. That question will give a lot of insight into what his focus is and how he does ministry.
     
  20. North Carolina Tentmaker

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2003
    Messages:
    2,355
    Likes Received:
    1
    This most important question flossbling, is not for the candidate, but for the church. What do you believe and what do you expect from a pastor?

    If your church statement of belief and pastors job description are not complete then you are not ready to interview a candidate. Once you are simply ask him the same thing and see how they match up. It will quickly be evident which candidates to pursue and which not to waste time on.
     
Loading...