Mark Dance

“As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit” (Luke 8:14).

Everyone in ministry will eventually be on both sides of a pastor or ministry leader search process and will need to know best (and worst) practices. Many search team mistakes are inevitable, yet most are avoidable. I’ve learned these lessons the hard way.

There is rarely a more vulnerable time in the life and ministry of pastors than when they’re being considered for a church position. Although mistakes in ministry are a given, some are more costly and avoidable than others. Here are four common pastor candidate mistakes to avoid so you can be prepared for that next pastor search team. This list is not exhaustive, but hopefully it will be helpful. 

Thankfully, pastors don’t have award shows and trophy cases like actors and athletes. But we are not immune from the distractions that come with applause.

Columnist and pastor Mark Dance says he learned to take a weekly day of rest the hard way -- by living life so fast that at one point he became clinically depressed.