In this episode of The Shalom Project, Mitch Lavender is joined by co-host Christian Konhaeuser-Lopez as they continue their series on entering into ministry for the first time.
This conversation centers on a crucial (and often overlooked) reality: you are interviewing a ministry just as much as they are interviewing you.
Together, Mitch and Christian explore how interviews can act as a microcosm of ministry culture—revealing values, power dynamics, expectations, and definitions of success long before you ever say “yes.”
In this episode, we explore:
Why interviews are about mutual discernment, not just qualification
Key questions to ask when evaluating a ministry’s values and culture
How to pay attention to your body, nervous system, and intuition during interviews
Why understanding power dynamics (authority, race, gender, culture, economics) matters
What it means when a ministry defines success by:
Attendance
Baptisms
Stories of transformation
Service metrics
The danger of value misalignment—and the cost of long-term compromise
How to assess whether a ministry invites mutual thriving or quiet assimilation
Why being “picky” (when possible) is an act of wisdom, not selfishness
The interview as a blind date—not a marriage proposal
Questions discussed in the episode include:
What happened to the last person in this role?
Who do I directly report to?
Who do I talk to if I have an issue with my direct report?
How does leadership relate to congregants / parishioners?
How do you define success in ministry?
What are the core values held by the leadership team?
Each question is framed not as suspicion—but as curiosity, care, and self-respect.
Extra Questions:
Who does my direct report, report to?
What are long-term goals of the leadership?
How do we handle HR issues? Is there an HR Team/department?
How is conflict handled?
How does the leadership team handle feedback?
How is the work life balance?
What’s the culture of the Leadership team?
Would you work here again?
A posture we encourage:
Come curious.
Come grounded.
Come honest about your needs and boundaries.
And if you can, do not compromise your values out of fear or urgency.
A faster “yes” is not always a safer one.
If alignment is there — beautiful.
If it isn’t — that information matters.
And sometimes, if you can’t find it, you may be called to create it elsewhere.
Recommended Resource
We reference The Church Called Tov by Scott McKnight and Laura Barringer as a helpful framework for thinking through church culture, leadership health, and institutional values.
What’s next?
In the next episode, we shift the lens:
👉 You’ve been hired. Now what?
We’ll explore posture, boundaries, and discernment after you step into a ministry role.
As always, take what’s helpful.
Leave what’s not.
And may you move toward places where your values—and your humanity—are welcomed.
Music By: Zakar Valaha from Pixabay
