The complete guide to finding and calling the right pastor for your small or rural church — written by someone who has been through it.
Most small church pastor searches fail not because the right candidates don’t exist, but because the search committee doesn’t know what they’re doing. They move too fast. They ask the wrong questions. They call a pastor who looks great on paper but isn’t right for their church. This toolkit changes that.
What’s Inside
- Search Committee Formation Guide — Who should be on the committee, how to structure it, and how to run it well
- Church Profile Template — Write a profile that attracts the right candidates and repels the wrong ones
- Candidate Evaluation Rubric — Score candidates consistently so emotions don’t drive the decision
- Interview Question Bank — 80+ questions organized by category: theology, leadership, family, finances, conflict, and vision
- Reference Check Guide — The questions that reveal who a candidate really is (not just who they say they are)
- Background Check Checklist — What to verify and how
- Compensation Worksheet — Build a fair, sustainable package that won’t create conflict later
- Negotiation Guide — How to extend a call and handle counteroffers
- Onboarding Checklist — Set your new pastor up for success from day one
- Communication Templates — Letters for every stage: acknowledging applications, scheduling interviews, extending the call, declining candidates
The Problem This Solves
The average small church pastor search takes 12–18 months and costs the church in attendance, giving, and morale. A well-run search takes 6–9 months and results in a pastor who stays. This toolkit gives your committee the framework to run a search that ends well.
Who This Is For
Search committee members who have never done this before. Deacons and elders who are leading the process. Interim pastors who are guiding a church through transition. Anyone who wants to get this right.
Format
PDF download. 143 pages. Printable. Immediate access after purchase. No subscription.
Want everything in one place? This resource is included in the Rural Church Complete Library ($89.99) — 90+ premium MinistryPlace resources in one organized download.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.