Premier Church Staffing

Candidate Questionnaire

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. There are no right answers to perform — just be honest. Our goal is to represent you accurately and prayerfully to the church God may be calling you to serve. Only the starred fields are required, but every answer you share helps us represent you well.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

Personal Information

Basic contact details and family information.

Full Name *

Email *

Phone *

City & State

Wife’s Name

Children (names & ages)

Position / Church Search You Are Applying For *

Attach Your RésuméOptional, but helpful. PDF, DOC, or DOCX — up to 8MB.

No file selected

Education & Credentials

EducationDegrees, institutions, and years. Include seminary training.

Are you ordained? If so, by whom and when?

Ministry Experience

Start with your current role, then list previous positions most recent first.

Current Position

Church Name & Location

Role

Years Served

Salary (total package)

Attendance Sunday AM — or youth group size if a youth role.

Staff You Oversee Number and roles, if any.

List your previous ministry positions below, most recent first. Complete as many as apply.

Previous Position 1

Church Name & Location

Role

Years Served

Salary (total package)

Attendance Sunday AM — or youth group size if a youth role.

Reason for Leaving

Previous Position 2

Church Name & Location

Role

Years Served

Salary (total package)

Attendance Sunday AM — or youth group size if a youth role.

Reason for Leaving

Previous Position 3

Church Name & Location

Role

Years Served

Salary (total package)

Attendance Sunday AM — or youth group size if a youth role.

Reason for Leaving

Additional PositionsIf you have more than three previous positions, list them here with church, role, years, salary, attendance, and reason for leaving.

Testimony & Call

Briefly share your testimony — how did you come to faith in Christ?

Describe your call to pastoral ministry and how it was confirmed by others.

Why are you open to a ministry transition in this season?

Theology & Convictions

Answer plainly and specifically. Where you hold a view loosely, say so.

Your view of Scripture (inspiration, inerrancy, sufficiency)

Your soteriologyHow do you understand election, human responsibility, and the gospel offer?

Eschatological position

View of the sign gifts

Briefly explain or add nuance to either answer above.

Your philosophy of church governance & polity

Women in pastoral ministry

View of creation

The relationship between Israel and the ChurchDoes the Church replace Israel, or does Israel retain a distinct place in God’s plan? Explain briefly.

Your convictions on marriage, biblical sexuality, and genderHow would you shepherd and preach on these issues in today’s culture?

Your view of baptism and the Lord’s SupperMode, meaning, and who should participate.

Primary Bible translation you preach from

Your position on alcohol & Christian liberty

Who are your biggest theological influences?Authors, preachers, professors, ministries.

Have you changed your mind on any significant doctrine in the last ten years? Explain.

Preaching

Describe your preaching philosophy.Expository, topical, or mixed — and why.

Walk us through your weekly sermon preparation process.

Links to 2–3 recent preaching samplesYouTube, Vimeo, or church website links — one per line.

Leadership & Shepherding

How would your current staff and elders describe your leadership style?

Describe a significant conflict you have navigated in ministry and what you learned.

How do you develop leaders? Give an example of someone you have raised up.

Outside the pulpit, what does your personal shepherding of members look like?

Family & Personal Walk

Tell us about your wife and family. How do they feel about a possible transition?

How long have you been married?

Have you or your wife ever been divorced?

If yes, please explain the circumstances.When it occurred, the biblical grounds if any, and how your church leadership has viewed it. This is held in confidence and discussed with you before anything is shared.

How do you protect your marriage and family amid the demands of ministry?

Describe your current personal spiritual disciplines — honestly.

How do you rest? What do you enjoy that has nothing to do with ministry?

Integrity & Disclosure

These questions protect you as much as the church. Anything shared here is held in strict confidence by Premier Church Staffing.

Is there anything in your past — moral, financial, legal, or relational — that could surface and cause embarrassment to a church that calls you?If yes, please explain. It is far better that we hear it from you now.

How is your health? Any limitations a church should know about?

Practical Matters

Are you willing to relocate?

Earliest availability to begin

What are your salary needs?Not expectations — needs. What does your family require to serve without financial distraction?

References

Please provide three references: one elder or supervisor, one peer in ministry, and one church member who has sat under your preaching. We will never contact your references without your express permission — your confidentiality is protected throughout this process.

Reference 1 — Name, relationship, phone, email

Reference 2 — Name, relationship, phone, email

Reference 3 — Name, relationship, phone, email

Final Thoughts

Is there anything else you would like us or the church to know about you?

What questions do you have for us?

I affirm that the answers above are true and complete to the best of my knowledge, and I understand they will be shared confidentially with the church search committee.