When their pastoral offices becomes vacant, many Baptist churches form what is know as a “pulpit is committee”. A pulpit committee typically consists of several church members whom the body has tasked with seeking, interviewing, and recommending pastoral candidates. Have you ever wondered what kinds of questions these churches ask pastoral candidates? How do you think potential pastors should answer these questions? In this on-going series, I will provide actual inquiries from a questionnaire sent to me by the pulpit committee of a Southern Baptist Church, along with my answers. Each part of this series will examine a different question and answer from the church’s questionnaire. Feel free to interact in the comment section with your own opinions of how the questions should have been asked and answered.
(Note: The identity and location of the church has been replaced with generic terms).
Question:
What method would you use in accomplishing the goals and business affairs of the church?
Answer:
I would first ensure that goals align with scripture before seeking them to achieve them. With regard to business affairs, I would favor a self-led approach unless the scope of the matter required assistance. I don’t favor committees; I find them inefficient. For specific physical needs of the church, deacons should be able to handle them in a self-directed way. For very large decisions the entire church should be consulted. I do not like the trend I’ve seen in churches where 200 members show up on Sunday morning and 20 show up for the Sunday night business meetings. I would push against that kind of apathy. An engaged people are an evangelistic people, I think.
*Please note that the preceding is my personal opinion. It is not necessarily the opinion of any entity by which I am employed, any church at which I am a member, any church which I attend, or the educational institution at which I am enrolled. Any copyrighted material displayed or referenced is done under the doctrine of fair use.
Seth Dunn 