Introduction
A leader of the Christian church or Congregation is called a Pastor. The Pastor provides advice as well as counsel to the people belonging to the community or congregation. Pastors are always ordained in Lutheranism, Catholicism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Anglicanism. Let us know ‘Pastor Interview Questions’.
Their role is to research and write to prepare sermons and work on how to present sermons to the public. They also need to officiate at various occasions such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals and assist the church ministry by performing various administrative duties.
Have you ever wondered what sorts of questions a candidate who has applied for the position of a Pastor, is asked in the interview? Well, don’t worry as we are here to tell you all about it. The list given below includes a wide range of questions, from general to in-depth.
Pastor Interview Questions With Sample Answers
- Tell us a bit about yourself.
Ans: “I am a diligent person with strong interpersonal skills. I believe in teaching people about faith and spirituality through several activities such as initiating discussions and conversations about it. I am always clear and logical about what I teach.”
- Why did you apply for the role of Pastor at this church?/ The main reason behind it?
Ans- “I aim to become a Pastor at St. Paul’s Cathedral as I want to contribute to the church’s mission to teach spirituality and the importance of service to the people. I would like to utilize my faith and energy to teach the same values to the present generation and assist them in developing their spiritual identities.”
- What are the different kinds of activities that you use to aid people in developing faith and the right spiritual values?
Ans: “I believe in employing a wide range of activities to teach people about spiritual values. The activities would differ from person to person depending upon their spiritual needs. I will teach them the power of journaling their thoughts and emotions, writing them down, reflecting on them, and processing their emotions. In addition to this, I would also like to teach them spirituality through the stories mentioned in the Bible and then discuss them with them, and hear their viewpoints.”
- When it comes to young people, how would you motivate them to join or attend church events as well as group meetings?
Ans: “There is a myriad of activities and programs that I would like to use to encourage young minds to join and/or attend church events and group meetings. I would like to initiate discussions and dialogues that would help in linking faith and other spiritual values to their life goals, relationships, emotional and mental growth, etc.”
- Can you give us an insight into your theological and religious education?
Ans: “I have acquired a degree in religious studies from Canterbury Christ Church University in the United Kingdom. As a part of this degree, I learnt various disciplines, from theology to philosophy. In addition to this, I gained knowledge about several key disciplines of theological and religious education.”
- How would you manage the stress and pressure that stems from being given such a huge responsibility if hired for this role?
Ans- “I always believe in keeping myself calm and composed. I always believe in setting realistic goals for myself and practicing relaxation techniques such as Yoga, deep breathing, meditation, etc as well. In addition to this, I always motivate myself to perform well but take breaks from time to time as well. I always believe that with great power comes great responsibility and the key is to utilize it well. Times have changed. I believe in drawing examples from the stories mentioned in the Bible and linking them with current events to help people in developing their own spiritual identities.”
- Could you tell us about the spiritual models you get inspired from?
Ans: “The two spiritual role models I truly believe in are- Martin Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi. Both personalities taught the world the importance of service, speaking up against injustice, believing in truth, and non-violence, addressing the problems impacting society, and working towards them by making our fruitful contribution. They taught the world to be the change, to take an action ourselves against various problems instead of expecting someone else to do it for us. They taught us “to be the change we want to see. (Mahatma Gandhi’s words)”
- Could you shed some light on your communication style?
Ans: “I always believe in being clear, logical, and effective in communicating spiritual values to people. Times have changed immensely today and different perspectives surround us. I would make use of the stories in the Bible to teach people about faith in God and several other spiritual values. I would like to support my thoughts and beliefs with current events to make people understand religion and theology. And to listen carefully to their point of view as well.”
- Why is it important for people to have faith in God?
Ans: “I strongly believe that having faith in God helps in various ways, especially during uncertain and hard times as it gives us strength and aids us in moving forward. In addition to this, it gives us a higher sense of self and purpose in life. And even pushes us to do good deeds.”
- According to you, what makes a good sermon?
Ans: “I feel a good sermon is one that has an impact on the way we think, what we feel, what we do, and what we feel about God. In addition to this, it should communicate the biblical truth well and also explain it in depth. It should be able to make people with different perspectives, listen attentively. And it should begin a conversation in our minds.”
Conclusion
Hence, a Pastor is a person who is the leader of the Christian church or congregation. They give advice and counsel to the people belonging to the congregation. In addition to this, they deliver sermons and perform various administrative duties as well.
While applying for the position of Pastor, an applicant is asked various kinds of questions, from general to in-depth.
