Churches, Finding Staff Members & Courtesy
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, July 05, 2005
- Viewed 181
- (94) comments so far
Since I apply for Communications or Media Director type jobs, you can be sure that the churches to which I apply are large (over 1,000) and well-staffed. They ought to at least have the courtesy of mailing or emailing losing candidates with a form letter.
Many don't, and that's just not right.
This person makes a valid point; and as I said, it's one that I hear quite often from job seekers.
I think this is one area that most churches can vastly improve on. It is pretty much standard practice in the non-church world to at least thank the applicant for applying... and it's something that churches usually don't do.
When you or your church search for your next staff member; be sure you have all your bases covered; and that includes a good plan for communicating effectively with all job applicants. Please? 
FOR DISCUSSION: What has been your experience in applying for jobs? Do you feel churches are courteous and professional in their communications with you? If you're on a church staff or search committe... how does your church follow up with prospective candidates?
Todd
I received a letter recently that I thought I’d share here. The reason I share it is because I’ve received numerous others over the past few months… all saying essentially the same thing. Here’s the letter: Dear Todd, Me again, writing this time as an ordinary Joe seeking a church staff job, such as those advertised on ChurchStaffing.com. Let me be blunt: Churches need chastising for the way they treat job seekers. I’ve applied for a number of jobs listed on the ChurchStaffing.com site. Usually, but not always!, I have received some sort of acknowledgement that my application was received. But churches really drop the ball when it comes to informing losing applicants that they didn’t get the job…
Comments
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Steven Murphy on Tue, July 05, 2005
I think that some churches might be overwhelmed and surprised at the reponse that a national job-board such as this one can generate. This, however, is still no excuse for poor follow-up communications. Even a “rubber stamped” letter that tells you that you are not in the running would be nice. I have also applied for positions where there was not even as much as an acknowledgment that conirms that an application/resume/e-mail had been received. It gets frustrating.
Bill Ellenberger on Tue, July 05, 2005
Todd,
I know where this applicant is coming from. As we work with churches that as seeking a pastor, I bring this point up with the search committee. We provide a flowchart and sample letters to cover each processing step of the pastoral search.
Communications is vital in any church today. By church lay-leaders setting the example from the initial contact it sets the tone of what the church is and how they treat people. Effective correspondence shows professionalism and church leadership integrity. Good pastoral candidates look for things like this in their search for a new church.
Blessings,
Bill Elleberger
President
Faithful Path
http://www.faithfulpath.com
Chris on Tue, July 05, 2005
I agree with these comments about applying for church positions. In general, I find that the “church”, lacks many of the common courtesy’s of the secular business world. I have applied to a few churches myself. I come from years of business experience as a CFO, easily able to function in some executive pastor roles. However, I do not have “church” staff history. In general, I notice that the “church’s” problem solving skills, interview techniques, evaluation skills, organizational skills, etc. are generally below that of the business world. I understand that ministry organizations come from different backgrounds, but it always bothers me that the “church” is second rate when compared to the secular world. We should set the standard for the world to follow. When churches do not even follow up with job applicants, it demonstrates a common lack of courtesy. Courtesy should be the “bedrock” for the church.
Fred Stroman on Tue, July 05, 2005
For the most part no reply is the best for me. I am so tired of getting a DEAR FRED letter, that says that I do not fit the church profile. To me they are tieing the hands of the Holy Spirit. It is not what is on the resume of a person, but the heart of the Lord guiding them over prayer.
bernie dehler on Tue, July 05, 2005
Yup, it’s an area where churches can “practice what they preach” and “walk the talk.” I think churches should appreciate applicants as members of the body of Christ, and think of it as discipling. Build up the applicants for work somewhere else, if not needed at your place, and ENCOURAGE them.
...Bernie
Anonymous on Tue, July 05, 2005
Forgive the anonymous post - but the job for which I applied is still “open”. My experience is this - my resume was actually sent by two different people - with recommendations - over a month ago. I have never even received (nor have the two men who recommended me) any kind of acknowledgment of the resumes’ receipt. Pretty shabby I think - and in fact makes me wonder is this the kind of place I would want to work.
Don on Tue, July 05, 2005
I just wait three months and if I do not get a reponse, I delete the information. Of course, I really was sad when I had not gotten any response from the intereview process and then see the job posting on the web site again. I felt like sending in another resume, but felt that would not be professional. Of course, the church might not have understood because they did not have the professional curtosy to let me know that I was not a viable prospect. My commercial experiences are much better and in many ways.
Rick Courtney on Tue, July 05, 2005
This writer is very correct. As one that has applied to several jobs from this board- I have had maybe 1-2 feedback reports. Its as though they are only concerned with their need- It does not matter that the Christians applying are following Gods leading to even apply for that position. As one that has applied- I usually look at the qualifications- pray about it- try and find out more about the position and church and at that point- if it seems like a possible fit- I move forward and apply. To me - if someone takes the time to apply- they should at least get an email back saying- Thanks but “whatever their comments”—
Now that I have committed to planting a church- I make a vowel right now that when the need arises- I will followup with everyone…. Be Blessed and encouraged- there are needs for all of us in Gods Kingdom all…
Rick Courtney
http://www.rickcourtney.com
Randy Ehle on Tue, July 05, 2005
Of the ten churches I have applied to so far (I’m still in the search), four have turned me down. Three of those sent a nice, short e-mail to let me know that I’m no longer being considered. Granted, there are six other churches that could also have passed me up and I just don’t know it yet!
I actually appreciated the notes that I received. I disagree with Fred and Bernie’s take on this as “tieing the hands of the Holy Spirit.” Any search committee worth its salt has bathed the process in prayer…and if they haven’t done that, then I’m not sure I want to work at that church anyway.
The church that didn’t contact me (and had no plans to) seemed overwhelmed at the response they’d had. But in this day and age, there’s no excuse for not sending even an e-mail, even if it’s a form letter. It only takes a few clicks to send that out.
Bob on Tue, July 05, 2005
The non-standard approach I’ve experienced is that churches (and not-for-profits) want to have informal interviews, before even initiating a formal application process. I’ve been invited to “get acquainted” lunches. Or I’ve been asked, “Could you come see our facility, meet some of our staff, so we can get better acquainted?” I’ve been told these meetings are not interviews, but I must treat them as such.
It also seems non-professional when churches ask me about my salary range in the first conversation or e-mail. As I’ve pushed back on this item, the consistent answer is, “We don’t want to waste your time (or ours) if we can’t meet your need”. I understand this thinking, but when you do ministry out of a sense of calling, compensation is secondary.
Tienie on Tue, July 05, 2005
The Lord called me out of the business world into the ministry, and what I have found has been a general lack of professionalism or excellence in the church. After graduating in May with my M Div, I sent out several resumes, and I can relate to what has been said regarding little if no response from churches. I do know that as the Lord leads me into a church, I will make sure that my staff and I will be cuteous to all via e-mail, phone or otherwise.
Blessings
Tienie
Jamie Glasgow on Tue, July 05, 2005
I would have to say that this topic really strikes a chord within me as well. It is extremely frustrating to me when churches don’t even acknowledge that you are alive and trying to make contact. One sent me a HUGE questionaire to fillout and after spending several hours doing so, I have never heard any reply back from them. One church in my home town that contacted me and I took the time to meet with them in person twice did the same thing. They told me that I was on the top of their list and then no contact for about 2 months when I found out that they had hired someone else already. That was the second time they did something like that to me.
Church politics and courtesy is almost enough to drive someone out of the ministry and if more church memebers really knew what all “went on behind the scenes” they would probably leave. I applied to one church and there is one committee member that “found her way into” the group basically bashed me in front of the group before they ever had a meeting with me. It really is a shame.
Ernesto Obregon on Tue, July 05, 2005
Ditto here on several of the comments. I have applied for several church-based jobs. In all that time, I have received one reply from a church that said they would contact me if they decide to further consider me. Given the length of time that has passed, I assume that I am not being considered.
I consider that a minimal response should be an acknowledgement that your application has been received. If they do not plan on contacting those whom they do not call, then that initial acknowledgement should say that.
There have been one or two positions that I thought were just what I would want and would please the Lord. It is tough when not even a reply is received.
mark on Tue, July 05, 2005
I agree that that job applicants should get some response. I am guessing that more than anything, it is due to the church being overwhelmed as Steven pointed out.
Still, if it is possible, it won’t hurt if the applicant tries and do some follow-up too. 1st, to see if the resume was received, 2nd, to find out where the applicant may be in the running.
I have yet to inquire into any church staff positions (yet), but in my (secular) career, I called or sent follow-up letters up to 2 - 3 times. It was worth the extra effort on my part.
Grace and peace,
Keith McKenzie on Tue, July 05, 2005
Amen! to the writer nad a number of the previous comments. In my experiences in applying to churches, I’ve found, very much, the same experiences. That said, I also find it hard to simply blame “the churches” involved for being insensitive, unbusiness-like, etc. In most cases (at least in my experience) the initial weed-through of resumes is done by a committee of lay people from the church that have been put on this search committee for various reasons. It certainly isn’t a given that any of the members of the search committee have experience in the business world in hiring and human resources. Sure; maybe the churches have a responsibility to instruct their committees how to run the initial part of a hiring process, but, maybe, we should also understand that (at least in some cases) the committees running the process might not even know any better.
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