How to Find and Apply for Ministry Positions: A Guide for Candidates

How to Find and Apply for Ministry Positions: A Guide for Candidates

You are looking for your next church. Maybe you are graduating from seminary. Maybe your current season is ending. Maybe you have been in one place for years and feel the pull toward something new.

You want to serve where it matters. Where the work is real. Where you will know your people and they will know you.

This guide walks you through exactly how to find and apply for ministry positions on MinistryPlace Jobs — from browsing openings to writing a cover letter that gets you an interview.

What Makes MinistryPlace Different

Every position on the MinistryPlace Jobs board is in a small church, rural church, or bi-vocational context. That is not a limitation. That is the point.

According to the National Congregations Study, the median American church has 70 people on Sunday morning. Faith Communities Today reports that 70% of U.S. congregations have 100 or fewer in weekly attendance. These are not failed big churches. They are the backbone of American Christianity — and they need pastors who are called to them, not pastors who see them as stepping stones.

Lifeway Research found that 47% of evangelical pastors work a second job. If bi-vocational ministry is part of your calling — or even a possibility you are open to — this is the board where those positions are front and center.

Browsing is always free. Applying is always free. No account required.

Step 1: Search the Board

Go to MinistryPlace Jobs. You can browse all open positions on one page, or use the search bar to filter by keyword. Available job types include:

• Senior / Lead Pastor
• Associate Pastor
• Youth Pastor
• Children’s Ministry Director
• Worship Leader
• Interim Pastor
• Church Administrator
• Bi-Vocational Pastor

Use the type filters on the left to narrow your search. If you are open to bi-vocational work, make sure to check that category — many of the best small church positions are bi-vocal.

If a position says “Remote Position,” it means some or all of the work can be done remotely. This is uncommon for senior pastor roles but more common for administrators, worship leaders, and interim pastors.

Step 2: Evaluate Whether a Position Is Right for You

Before you apply, be honest with yourself about fit. Small church ministry is not for everyone — and that is fine. Here are the questions worth asking:

Do I genuinely value depth of relationship over breadth of influence? In a church of 60, you will know every person by name. You will know their families, their struggles, their history with the church. You will be at their hospital beds and their kitchen tables. If that sounds like the body of Christ functioning as it was designed, keep reading.

Am I comfortable wearing many hats? In a small church, the pastor is often also the administrator, the communications director, the facilities coordinator, and the IT person. This is not a bug. It is a feature of ministry where everyone contributes.

Can I thrive where growth is measured in faithfulness, not numbers? The small church that grows from 60 to 75 has experienced something profound. The church that holds steady at 60 for a decade while deepening discipleship and serving its community is not failing. It is being faithful.

Am I willing to be known? In a small town or rural community, your life is not private. People will know where you shop, what you drive, how you raise your children. If that level of visibility sounds draining rather than meaningful, a larger church may be a better fit.

If the position is bi-vocational, can I sustain two jobs? According to Lifeway Research, nearly half of all evangelical pastors work a second job. It is a legitimate calling, not a failure. But it requires boundaries, a supportive church, and a clear-eyed assessment of your capacity.

Step 3: Read the Posting Carefully

A well-written job posting tells you a lot about the church that wrote it. Here is what to look for:

Specificity. A posting that says “Preach Sunday mornings, visit members on Tuesdays, lead a Wednesday evening Bible study, and serve on the community food pantry board” tells you far more than “preaching and pastoral duties.” Specificity means the church has thought carefully about the role.

Honesty about challenges. If a posting says “We are a church of 45 that has been without a pastor for 18 months and we are working through some conflict,” that is a green flag, not a red one. It means the church is self-aware and transparent. A posting that paints a rosy picture with no mention of challenges is a warning sign.

Compensation clarity. The best postings state the salary or salary range, housing arrangements, benefits, and expectations for hours. If compensation is not listed, it is reasonable to ask about it in your initial response — but do so respectfully and after you have demonstrated genuine interest in the church.

Community description. Postings that tell you about the town, the schools, the region, and the cost of living are written by churches that understand what candidates need to make a good decision. A church that cares about helping you evaluate fit is a church that will care about your success.

Step 4: Write a Cover Letter That Actually Works

A generic cover letter signals that you are applying everywhere and have not thought carefully about this particular church. A specific letter signals that you have done your homework and you are serious.

Here is a structure that works:

Paragraph 1: Why this church. Reference something specific from the posting. “I was drawn to your listing because of your emphasis on community food pantry ministry — that is the kind of incarnational ministry I have practiced and want to continue.” This shows you read the posting. Most applicants will not do this.

Paragraph 2: Why small or rural ministry. Speak to your calling, not just your qualifications. “I spent three years serving a rural church of 50 in southern Indiana and discovered that the depth of relationship possible in a small community is what I was made for.” This tells the search committee you are not applying to their church as a fallback.

Paragraph 3: What you bring. Brief, specific, tied to the role. Do not list every accomplishment since seminary. Highlight two or three experiences that directly relate to what the posting describes.

Paragraph 4: Questions and next steps. End with one or two thoughtful questions about the role, and state what materials you are including (resume, references, sermon sample, etc.).

Attach: A current resume, three professional references (at least one from a church you served), and — if the role involves preaching — a link to a recent sermon recording or manuscript.

Step 5: Follow Up

If you have not heard back within two weeks, a brief, polite follow-up email is appropriate. “I wanted to follow up on my application for the senior pastor position submitted on [date]. I remain very interested and would welcome the opportunity to learn more about your church.”

If you receive a response asking for more information, reply promptly. The search process in a small church moves faster than you might expect — committees are often smaller and decisions are made more quickly.

What to Expect in the Process

The typical small church search process looks like this:

1. Application review. The search committee reviews all materials and narrows to 3–5 candidates.
2. Phone or video interview. A 30–60 minute conversation to assess fit. This is your chance to ask questions, not just answer them.
3. Reference checks. The committee will call your references. Make sure your references know you have listed them and can speak to your specific strengths.
4. In-person visit and preaching. The top 1–2 candidates are invited to visit the church, meet the congregation, and typically preach a sermon. Some churches also ask candidates to teach a Bible study or attend a committee meeting.
5. Congregational vote. If the church is pleased, the candidate is presented to the congregation for a vote. Most churches require a supermajority (67–90%).
6. Call extension. If the vote is affirmative, the church extends a formal call including compensation, start date, and other details.

The entire process typically takes 6–18 months. Small churches often take longer due to fewer resources and a smaller candidate pool. Do not let the timeline discourage you. The right church is worth waiting for.

Resources for Your Search

• The Complete Guide to Small Church Ministry — Strengths, challenges, and six strategies for thriving
• The Bi-Vocational Pastor’s Handbook — If you are considering a second job alongside ministry
• Rural Church Leadership Guide — Understanding the rural ministry context
• Pastor Search Committee Guide — Understand what the other side of the process looks like

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Browse open ministry positions now at MinistryPlace Jobs. Every position is in a small or rural church. Browsing and applying are always free.

MinistryPlace Jobs is the only ministry job board built exclusively for small and rural churches. Free for candidates. Affordable for churches. All denominations welcome. Search open positions today.

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Sources:

• National Congregations Study — nationalcongregationsstudy.org
• Faith Communities Today — faithcommunities.today
• Lifeway Research, “Evangelical Pastors More Likely Than Others To Be Bivocational” (June 2025) — research.lifeway.com