Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés - Union University

29 Pages·2016·0.98 MB·English

Your Guide to
Ministerial Résumés

Published by
The Vocatio Center for Life Calling and Career

www.vocatiocenter.com
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés 1
Table of Contents

Résumé Instructions......................................................................................................................3

Creating a Philosophy of Pastoral Ministry................................................................................4

Résumé Checklist...........................................................................................................................5

Power Words for Résumés............................................................................................................6

Common Résumé Mistakes...........................................................................................................6

Sample Ministerial Résumés....................................................................................................7-18

Sample Ministerial Cover Letter................................................................................................19

Sample Ministerial Reference Sheet...........................................................................................20

Sample Search Committee Questions: “Questions for a Prospective Pastor”..................21-24

Sample Philosophy of Pastoral Ministry..............................................................................25-29
Résumé Instructions

Résumés look a little different in every field, and especially so in the ministerial field. The primary
difference one will notice with these types of résumés is that they are much more personal than business
résumés. They state a person’s stance on ministry and doctrinal belief and they even discuss how a person
was called to salvation and into ministry. This type of résumé still shares many similarities with a
business résumé, though, and for this reason, there are a few guidelines provided in this packet that are
consistent to both. The Résumé Checklist will be found helpful when creating a résumé for the first time.
Also the “Power” Words for Résumés can help make an okay résumé into one that clearly communicates
you, your accomplishments and your abilities in just a few choice word changes. Both of these tools will
be invaluable in creating or updating your résumé.

Note: A résumé is the first impression that a search committee receives about the candidate. So it is
important to make the best possible first impression.

Contact information should be listed first at the very top of the résumé. Besides your name, it is
important in this electronic age to list a professional e-mail address as well as home address, home
phone number, and cell phone number. You may also include social media profile links and/or
links to blogs or other personal websites or portfolios.

The first section of a ministerial résumé should include personal information. Search Committees
want to know about you in a personal way. Some items you might consider putting into the
personal section are birth date, family, interests, date and place where you were licensed and/or
ordained, and social media profiles or blogs you maintain.

The second section of your ministerial résumé should include your education. Although this is not
a determining factor, search committees will still appreciate your willingness to list your education
on the résumé.

The third section of your ministerial résumé should include your ministerial experience. You will
want to list the job title, the church/organization, the amount of time you spent there, and some of
your duties while there. You might want to divide your ministerial experience into different parts
for example pastoral, youth ministry, and missions

The fourth section of your ministerial résumé should include your secular work experience. You
may wonder why this is relevant. It is relevant because any experience you have gained indicates
something about your work ethic, commitment, and maturity.

The final sections of your ministerial résumé should be a section on personal statement of
salvation and call in to the ministry, ministry statement, and doctrinal belief.
Creating a Philosophy of Pastoral Ministry

If you are considering any type of pastoral ministry position, then creating a philosophy of the aim and
purpose of it and how it is to be carried out is significantly helpful for both you and a church’s search
committee. Creating this document allows you to critically reflect on the Bible by working through what
it has to say about pastoral ministry, which in turn allows for in-depth personal reflection on your call to
ministry and how you intend to carry it out. This document will also allow you, in a concise but powerful
way, to communicate to a search committee how you will lead their church, pastor their people, and
preach the Word of God. A philosophy of pastoral ministry is, of course, optional, but it is still highly
recommended for all of the above reasons.

Please feel free to contact Ben Burleson, Programming Coordinator of the Vocatio Center, or Dr. Ray
Van Neste, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, with any questions you may have about creating a
philosophy of pastoral ministry. Both individuals would be happy to help you in creating this document.

Below you will find some instructions on how to create your philosophy of pastoral ministry.

The Bible must be consulted first and foremost in order for any individual to accurately discuss pastoral
ministry. You will want to study the follow texts:
• 1 Tim. 3 & Tit. 1 (study together) • 1 Pet. 5:1-4 & 1 Thess. 5:12-13 (study
together)
• Heb. 13:17 • 1 Tim. 4:6-16
• Acts 6, Ezra 7:9-10 & 1 Tim. 5:17 • 2 Tim. 2:14-26
(study together)
• Col. 1:25-29 • 1 Thess. 2
• Acts 20 • 2 Tim. 4
• Mal. 2:1-9 • Jer. 23, 2 Chron. 18:13, 1 Pet. 4:11 (study
together)

As you study these texts, look for the purpose of pastoral ministry, the essence or definition of it, the
biblical character qualifications for a pastor and the work involved in pastoral ministry. Take notes on
each section, allowing yourself to process and put in words what you think each text says about these
particular topics. Feel free if you find other topics not mentioned here to think through them and take
notes on them.

Compile your philosophy of pastoral ministry based on your study. You will want your philosophy to be
ordered similar to this fashion: Introduction, The Essence of Pastoral Ministry, Its Purpose, The
Qualifications for a Pastor, The Work Involved in Pastoral Ministry, and a Conclusion.

Your philosophy should be between 5-8 pages. The closer it is to the minimum page limit the better; you
do not want a lengthy paper. You must remember that the typical member of a pastoral search committee
does not have a degree in biblical studies, and they expect you to be able to articulate what the Bible
says about pastoral ministry in a concise manner. A lengthy philosophy will tell the committee that
you are wordy, giving them a bad impression.

Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés 4
Résumé Checklist

• Always tailor your Résumé to the job you are seeking!
• Never use a template. If you have, select the text. Go the table menu→Convert→Table to text.
• No more than 2 pages.
• Balance pages (1 full or 2 full) and be consistent with formatting throughout.
Name:
• Bold, 24 pt
• No blank white space at top
• Use same font as headings
• At least 10 pts larger than headings
Headings:
• 2-4 pts larger than body text (14-16 pt)
• Same font as Name
Body Text:
• Use a font with feet. (Garamond, Palatino, Times New Roman)
• 10-12 point
Personal Information
• Family
• Licensing and/or ordination
• Social media profiles/Blog
Education:
• Expected graduation date (Month and year)
• List GPA if 3.0 or above
Ministerial Experience/Employment:
• For dated items, list the most recent first.
Check for consistency in formatting work experience.
o Possible format: Job title (italics), Company name (bold), City, State, Dates of Employment
• List experience as year – year (Ex. 2004 – 2006) leave off months.
• Indent bullet points with job duties 5 spaces.
Secular Experience/Employment:
• Formatted exactly the same as Ministerial Experience/Employment
Personal Statement of Salvation and Call to Ministry
• Briefly, concisely state your testimony on your salvation and call to ministry
Ministry Statement
• Power adjectives to describe what you want to do in ministry
• Example:
o To tell everyone the wonderful news of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, encouraging souls to
believe in him as the Lord and Savior of humanity, to guard and teach every soul entrusted to me by
God with all the wisdom of the Gospel in order to present every one of these persons perfect and
complete in Christ Jesus, to equip these persons to spread the Gospel in their surrounding communities
and in the world abroad.
Doctrinal Belief
• Briefly, concisely state you doctrinal beliefs on the Trinity, salvation, and the Word of God. State the statements
of faith with which you are in agreement
Reference Page
• 4-6 references (List 4 for part-time and 6 for full-time positions.)
• Copy header from Résumé. Create a heading called “References.” Should match other Résumé headings in font
and size. (See page 14)
• List name, job title, organization, phone, email for each reference
• Notify your references and ask permission to use them. Include a good selection of faculty members, co-
workers, former supervisors, and character references on your list.
Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés 5
Power Words for Résumés

Accelerated Delegated Harmonized Operated Reviewed
Achieved Demonstrated Headed Originated Scheduled
Acted as liaison Designed Improved Organized Set up
Adapted Detailed Implemented Participated Selected
Administered Developed Increased Perfected Shaped
Advised Directed Initiated Performed Simplified
Analyzed Discovered Innovated Pinpointed Sparked
Arranged Distributed Installed Pioneered Sold
Assembled Doubled Integrated Planned Solved
Assessed Employed Interpreted Prepared Standardized
Assisted Equipped Interviewed Produced Structured
Budgeted Established Invented Profited Succeeded
Built Evaluated Invested Programmed Supervised
Chaired Executed Investigated Promoted Supported
Clarified Expanded Justified Proposed Synthesized
Communicated Expedited Keynoted Proved Systematized
Completed Experienced Launched Provided Taught
Conceived Experimented Lectured Recommended Tailored
Conducted Explored Led Recorded Trained
Conferred Facilitated Maintained Reduced Transformed
Constructed Formed Managed Reinforced Unified
Consulted Formulated Mastered Related Verified
Controlled Founded Mediated Reorganized Widened
Converted Generated Motivated Researched Won
Coordinated Guided Negotiated Revamped Worked
Created Halved Observed Revised Wrote

Common Résumé Mistakes

Make sure you are careful not to:

❖ misspell any words.
❖ have any typographical errors.
❖ use sloppy grammar or diction.
❖ confuse your chronology. Always list most recent accomplishments first
❖ list your current or previous salaries.
❖ note political affiliations.
❖ make it difficult to get a quick summary.
❖ list names of references on the résumé; instead use a separate sheet.
❖ be too wordy or lengthy in your description. One paragraph about each job should be
ample.
❖ bury your most significant accomplishments in a less than prominent position.
❖ put company names, dates, and title in the body of the descriptive paragraphs. Set them
off visually so the reader can almost instantly grasp your whole history
Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés 6
Jane Doe
Permanent Address: 2525 Long Road • Princeton, KY 42445 • 270.555.3333
E-mail: [email protected]

Highly committed servant leader who enjoys building and maintaining meaningful, Christ-centered
relationships. Compassionate and dedicated to helping others succeed. Practical and logical thinker with
thorough attention to detail. Self-starter, dependable, organized, and efficient.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, May 2021, Union University, Jackson, TN
Overall G.P.A.: 3.96 G.P.A. in Major: 4.0 Minor: Human Studies

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Administrative Assistant, Union University Vocatio Center, Jackson, TN, 2015-Present
Supervise student workers, compile budget information, plan and coordinate special events, critique résumés,
interview students, assist with Career Fairs, put together monthly statistics report, perform general office duties,
coordinate marketing initiatives, manage database, establish and maintain resource library check-out system,
contact students and employers for recruiting opportunities, set up interview schedules, set up e-mail address
books for advertising events, send e-mail, and write/edit correspondence (reports, letters, memos, etc.)

Teacher’s Aide, Pope Elementary School, Jackson, TN, 2013-Present
Work with individual students (ages 5-6 years old) testing concepts and abilities, develop games and art projects to
enhance classroom instruction, teach reading via phonic techniques, and file and sort assignment papers and
artwork exercises.

Summer Missionary, “Hell is Real” Ministries, Princeton, KY, Summers of 2012-2013
Coordinate and plan events, tutor students, lead Bible Studies, assist in worship services, build and maintain
relationships with students, perform general office duties, create Powerpoint presentations, establish relationships
with local business people for future reference, plan and coordinate Shadow Day for up to 60 participants and 40
employers.

HONORS/ACTIVITIES/COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Alpha Chi National Honor Fraternity • Disciple Now/Revival Team Coordinator
• Barnabas Servant Leadership Award • Global Opportunities Trip-Irving, TX
• Union University President’s List • Tutor/Mentor Greater Hope Ministries
• Union University Dean’s List • Day of Remembrance Community Service
• National Dean’s List • Nursery Worker, Jackson First Baptist Church
• Who’s Who Among American College Students • Youth Assistant, Chapel Hill Baptist Church

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)
Digital Scanning and Photography
Internet & E-mail
Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés 7
Janet J. Generic
6556 Union Drive • Jackson, TN 55555
901.731.5555 • [email protected] • www.janetg.linkedin.com

Profile and Objective
A compassionate, responsible, and detail-oriented individual seeking a full-time position at a non-profit organization.
Organized, punctual, and a quick learner. Trustworthy, hard working, and dedicated.

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, May 2021
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, May 2016
Union University, Jackson, TN GPA: 4.0

Related Work Experience
Service Over Self, Memphis, TN, 2014-Present
SOS exists to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed through urban home repair
camps.

Academy Intern, 2014-present: Organized and scheduled home visits in preparation for the spring and summer camps.
Helped plan and advertise for the camps. Assisted in office related tasks such as mass mailings, answering phones, and
various forms of paperwork.

Office Assistant, 2013-2014: Collected and organized camp registration information. Performed office related tasks such
as answering phones, obtaining necessary office supplies, and various forms of paperwork.

Team Leader, 2012: Led groups of high school students in construction work on homes in an urban neighborhood.
Facilitated Bible studies and sang with Praise and Worship team.

Activities
International Justice Mission, Jackson, TN, 2015-present
Participated in monthly meetings; helped raise awareness for social issues such as sex trafficking, child soldiers,
genocide, and slavery; and participated in and helped organize service projects including letter writing campaigns,
raising money to free modern day slaves, and raising money for the victims of the Darfur genocide.

It Took a Miracle Ministry, Maracaibo Venezuela, 2015
Assisted with day camps and carnivals for needy children ages 1 to 16. Served meals through the local church. Worked
cooperatively with a team of 20 dedicated individuals to achieve the mission of the organization.

Women’s Co-Op Ministry, Jackson, TN, 2014-2015
Participated in weekly Bible studies and monthly large group meetings.

The 411 Church, New York, NY, 2015
Distributed flyers and love offerings in order to advertise for this new church. Administered needs assessment surveys
in a community and analyzed the results to determine needs. Prayer-walked in the target community as a means of
addressing its spiritual needs.

Honors & Memberships
• Who’s Who Among Students in American Univ. • Union University Scholarship Symposium
• President’s List • Christian Studies Academic Medal of Excellence
• Alpha Chi Academic Fraternity

Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés 8
Patrick Preacher
Address: 7 East Road · Jackson, TN 55555 · Phone Number: [phone]· E-mail Address: [email protected]
Blog: www.preachpatrickpreach.wordpress.com · Twitter: @ppreacher

Personal
Born: September 15, 1985, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Family:
• Wife – Penny Preacher: Stay-at-home mother • Daughter – Penelope Preacher
(Married on August 9, 2008) (born September 27, 2009)
Interests: Preaching, Education and Teaching, Reading, Writing, Watching Movies, Hiking

Education
Union University, Jackson, TN
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies/Languages, May 2018
Minor: History
GPA: 3.713 Major GPA: 3.781

Ministerial Experience
Sunday School Director, Pleasant Plains Baptist Church, Jackson, ΤΝ (2009-Present)
Overseeing the Sunday School program to ensure that Sunday School teachers have the materials necessary to teach
their respective classes; Planning a comprehensive Sunday School curriculum for the whole church by selecting
college and seminary-level courses, working with Pastor and teachers to develop lesson plans, and developing a
schedule of when classes will be held; Organizing church library by creating list of books/resources to purchase,
discarding unused, outdated materials, and creating a catalogue of books to keep an up-to-date inventory; Tabulating
Sunday School attendance for quarterly church business meeting.

Sunday School Teacher, Pleasant Plains Baptist Church, Jackson, TN (2007-Present)
Teaching an adult Sunday School class; Teaching Bible Studies on Genesis, Exodus, Colossians and 1 John and classes
on “The Church and Its Elements of Worship,” Biblical Theology of the Trinity, and General Biblical Theology;
Prepared curriculum and handouts for class; Organizing group study times for co-teachers; Delegating sections of
lesson plans to co-teachers based on their abilities and expertise.

Committee Head: Nominating Committee, Pleasant Plains Baptist Church, Jackson, TN (2007-Present)
Ensuring that all open positions of service amongst the church body are filled; Calling meetings for committee
members to nominate church members for service; Attending quarterly Church Council meetings to assist in
determining Pleasant Plains’ church calendar.

Church and Convention Ministry Scholarship Student Director, Union University, Jackson, TN (2006-2008)
Worked under direction of the Assistant Director of Church Relations, the Senior Vice President of University
Relations and the Senior Vice President for Church Relations to help Students called to ministry assess and pursue
that calling in a local church context; plan ministry-related events; Developed several different databases on Microsoft
Excel; Planned Student Preaching Nights with West Tennessee Baptist Associations; Preached several times; Provided
students to fill the pulpit of Holladay Baptist Church while they were searching for a pastor; Prepared a financial
biannual report of attendance for the Tennessee Baptist Convention; Co-developed a Ministry Mentorship Track for
students to develop mentoring relationships with Southern Baptist Ministers; Served at several different West
Tennessee Pastors and Wives Banquets.

Intern to the Minister of Education, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville, TN (2006)
Planned Wednesday Night Club VBS: Space Quest Children’s Program; Developed an Emergent Church Response
Survey to assess the theological maturity of the surrounding community; Developed a proposal for visitor parking
spaces; Provided leadership for Minister of Education when he was unavailable; Served as an adult chaperone at
Student Life Youth Camp; Preached; Planned summer calendar of events; Provided assistance to the youth minister
and his interns with their summer projects as needed.
Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés 9
Patrick Preacher Résumé, Page 2

Ministerial Experience, Cont’d
Youth Intern, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville, TN (2005)
Chaperoned and led Bible Studies in three youth camps; Served as large group Sunday School teacher for youth and as
the Journey Sunday Night Discipleship teacher; Preached numerous times; Planned a Youth-led worship service for
the whole church; Made numerous hospital visits with the youth pastor; Helped coordinate a mission trip to
Gatlinburg, TN; Assisted in grievance counseling; Set-up the Encounter and Paradigm Youth worship services;
Provided support for general office/secretarial duties; Assisted youth pastor in preparing the calendar for the Fall
2005 semester

Secular Employment
Union University, Undergraduate Admissions, Enrollment Counselor Jackson, TN (2008-2012)

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery, Shift Manager, Jackson, TN (2007-2008)

School of Christian Studies, Union University, Student Assistant, Jackson, TN (2006)

Marble Slab Creamery, Key-holder, Opry Mills Mall, Nashville TN (2003- 2006)

Save-A-Lot Food Store, Stockman/Cashier, Pikeville, TN (2002- 2003)

Honors/Activities
• Who’s Who Among College Students (2008) • Sophomore Council (2005-2006)
• Zondervan Greek Award (2007) o Helped in planning class events
• Student Government Association Chaplain (2006) • Freshman Council (2005)
• Theology and Apologetics Group, Vice-President o Helped in Homecoming set-up, oversaw
and Co-founder (2004) bands/band set-up for Battle of the Bands

Personal Statement of Salvation and Call to Ministry
I was raised in a Christian home, and my father diligently taught me the gospel at a young age. I believed in the Lord Jesus
Christ because He graciously called me to repentance and belief through my father’s and our church’s faithfulness in preaching
and teaching the Gospel; I was baptized at age 8. Soon thereafter, my family experienced a rough time, but God graciously
grew me in the wisdom of His Word through godly family members and the preaching of His Word; I have been seeking to
grow and be more obedient to his Gospel ever since. I received my call to ministry during my senior year of high school while
considering what university I would attend and what I wanted to do with my life. My youth minister helped me to realize that I
loved the Church and that I wanted to teach and preach the Gospel. After struggling with this call and the seriousness of it, I
surrendered to it on November 9, 2003. I can sincerely say that I desire to do nothing else but preach and teach the Gospel and
oversee the souls of the Church.

Ministry Statement
To tell everyone the wonderful news of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, encouraging souls to believe in him as the Lord
and Savior of humanity, to guard and teach every soul entrusted to me by God with all the wisdom of the Gospel in order to
present every one of these persons perfect and complete in Christ Jesus, to equip these persons to passionately pursue their
sanctification Christ Jesus and to spread the Gospel in their surrounding communities and in the world abroad.

Doctrinal Belief
I believe in God the Father, who sovereignly created and rules over all things, Jesus the Son, who came to offer eternal life to
those who would repent, believe, and faithfully obey him, and the Holy Spirit, who is actively working in the lives of
believers. I believe the Bible to be the infallible and inspired Word of God, sufficient for all the Church’s needs, including
primarily its growth in holiness to the Lord. I also am in agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message of 2000, 1963, and
1925, and the Philadelphia Confession of Faith.
Your Guide to Ministerial Résumés 10