6
Sep
2009

Candidating for Pastoral Ministry

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06 Sep 2009

One of the most significant things that my father ever said to me was, “When you come to candidate for a church, remember, the elders actually candidate for you.” This is something that every pastor, or aspiring pastor, should take to heart. Along these lines, Colin Adams–over at Unashamed Workman–has posted a list of questions that are extremely helpful, if only somewhat modified, for a man considering a call to a particular church. You can read it here.

About Post Author

Nick Batzig is the senior pastor of Church Creek PCA in Charleston, SC and an associate editor for Ligonier Ministries. Prior to serving at Church Creek, Nick was a pastor at Wayside PCA on Signal Mountain, TN. Formerly, Nick served as the founding pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Richmond Hill, GA and as the editor of Reformation21 and the Christward Collective--sites of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He frequently writes for Tabletalk Magazine, Reformation 21, He Reads Truth, and the Christward Collective. Nick was also the host of East of Eden, a podcast devoted to the Biblical and Systematic Theology of Jonathan Edwards. You can friend him on Facebook here and follow him on Twitter @nick_batzig

3 Responses

  1. Camden Bucey
    Reply

    I find it interesting that many of these questions should perhaps already be answered if the church was a member of a NAPARC denomination. You could simply read the appropriate books of church order and standards. I suppose you could ask if they follow the standards!

  2. Nicholas T. Batzig
    Reply

    Sadly, we both know that being a member of a NAPARC denomination doesn’t mean pastoral integrity. There will always be a Diotrephes. Paul said that from among the elders of the church in Ephesus false teachers would arise.

    I do agree with you, however, that being in a confessional denomination ought to alleviate some concerns!

  3. Kevin Carroll
    Reply

    Has one that has been there done that a few times, I noticed a few holes in the list. I would add:

    1. How many ministers has the church had in the last 10 years? Why?
    2. How long was the last minister there? Why?
    3. May I speak to your last minister?

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