Derek Penwell on [D]mergent lists 20 questions you might ask of your priest (he uses “minister” for this article):
I would like to begin by suggesting that the purpose of ministry in the church is to equip followers of Jesus for the reign of God. Therefore, the focus of ministry ought rightly to be on those areas that prepare people to be more mature followers of Jesus. That is to say, not all ministerial activities are created equal—which, of course, is as true for ministers as for ministry programming in the church.
And so, I’ve identified those areas that, I would argue (yes, as in, “argue”), help give us the fullest picture of what good ministry looks like as it seeks to accomplish its purposes. What follows is a series of questions that, I hope, will help to clarify how ministry might more effectively be evaluated.
Areas covered by questions:
The Minister as Example
If ministry involves helping to lead others to a more mature expression of faith, the most crucial area of ministerial expertise and performance ought to be that of model. In other words, ministers ought to be evaluated first and foremost by whether they actually seek to live like Jesus said to live.
The Minister as Theologian
So, living like a grownup follower of Jesus ought to be the broadest context in which ministerial evaluation takes place.
The Minister as Leader
Understanding that the church is a complex system, leadership by the minister should not be confused with bureaucratic administration.
The Minister as Pastor
In the process of equipping followers of Jesus for the reign of God, the minister is necessarily called upon to embody the love present in the gospel to people—within the congregation and without. Perhaps, just as importantly, the minister is responsible for helping to teach the congregation how it is called upon to embody that love.
What do you think?