More is Better When It Comes to Ministry Resumes

For many years the standard length for a resume was one-page. Everyone’s career objective, work and education experience had to be kept to that single page. Those expectations have loosened in today’s culture but many job seekers still tend to keep their resume within 1-2 pages. For many job seekers and employers, this is appropriate and their work career can be adequately articulated in 1-2 pages. But when it comes to ministry resumes, my opinion is more is better. When a search team is reviewing candidates, they are not simply looking at job experience. They want to know the heart and beliefs of this candidate. They want to know their ministry mission, their ministry philosophy, their theological convictions and much more. In fact, many churches have candidates fill out a lengthy questionnaire as a part of the process. Churches recognize they are not just hiring an employee, they are hiring a spiritual leader who will be used by God to lead them. The pastoral hire is no ordinary hire.

When I receive a resume for a pastoral position, I want that resume to tell me as much as possible about that candidate. I want to know their passion for ministry. I want to know their philosophy and convictions for church leadership. I want to know where they are rooted theological. I also want to know about their style of leadership. I want to know about their family. Yes, all of those things can be discovered through additional questionnaires and interviews but when I am working through hundreds of resumes, I want as much information as possible to determine who I want to interview.

In my previous pastoral resume, it came to 7 pages. I had the following section: 1) my personal mission statement, 2) philosophy of pastoral leadership, 3) philosophy of ministry, 4) my story and call to ministry which including a short bio of my life and family and my testimony. 4) my spiritual gifts 5) my personal core values, 6) influential books 7) education 8) ministry experience and professional experience. 9) doctrinal statement.

The longer, in-depth resume does two things for the church search team. It gives them a more full picture of the candidate and it shows the search team that you have thought through these significant areas. Your preparedness in the search process shows that  you are likely to be prepared in your job.

Do not be afraid to over communicate in the resume. The search team is wanting to get to know you. They may take the chance on continuing with you in the process over another candidate simply because they already know you more. It may take more time to put together a longer, more in-depth resume but in the long-term in will definitely be worth it.