Questions to Ask Prospective Churches

I am looking to find a pastorate where I can serve the people of God through the ministry. In the candidating process wise churches will always take time to drill their potential pastor to find the best candidate for their church. Yet, potential pastors must also ask hard and good questions about the church. I have begun writing a list of questions and I am wondering what else should be added. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

1. What are you looking for in a pastor?
2. What is the most important thing a pastor can do for you personally? For the church?
3. What can the pastor do to get to know the members of the church?
4. What do you believe are the duties of the pastor?
5. What do you believe are the duties of the pastor’s wife? Namely, does she have to be involved at every church event?
6. What type of preaching does your church prefer? Examples?
7. How long do you expect sermons to last?
8. What type of music styles does your church prefer?
9. Is your church more traditional (hymns) or contemporary (choruses) or both?
10. Have there been any church splits or acts of church discipline within the recent past?
11. How lethargic or passionate would you say the congregation as a whole is?
12. If lethargic what steps do you believe the church needs to take to become more passionate? If passionate or somewhere in between what does the church need to do to keep the fire going and to stoke it further?
13. What is the purpose and mission of the church?
14. How do you want your church to grow? In what specific and tangible ways can this growth be achieved?
15. In five years what should be different with your church?
16. How do you feel about the pastor’s continual education? How will this be supported?
17. How will the church help support the sanctity of the pastor’s home? I.e. how will the church help provide time alone for the pastor and his family without interruption?
18. What are you doing now to evangelize your community? What can be done differently and how would you like to move forward?
19. What are your thoughts on the pastor and his family making regular visits to your home to spend with your family? Do you think this is important?
20. What are the pressing needs of the church, both spiritually and materially? What are the things that need to be prayed for the most?