A beloved parishioner once told me, “It’s a job to get a job, and you can’t find a job until you have a job.” Many of us learn it’s not just what you know but whom you know. Apparently eighty percent – yes, 80% – of all job placements come from referrals. Having someone “carry your resume” to a search committee is still commonplace because references and networking work.
“Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
The exasperation of applying to churches time and again makes you question your calling to ministry in the first place. Never hearing anything and having to [rightly] assume the church isn’t going to bring you in view of a call is crushing. Rather than wading in the waters of self-doubt, there are a few ways you can take charge of your ministry job search.
Send your resume to Greenfields today. Like now, you can send it via Facebook Messenger or by emailing Craig Janney at craig@greenfields.consulting. Save yourself the trouble of filling out another profile on a Google Form or virtual system. Your time is valuable and we are experts at reading resumes.
Call your references on your resume to let them know you’re using Greenfields Church Consulting to help queue your search and match you with churches. During your conversation be sure to ask your references to recommend any congregations s/he knows are looking for a minister and confirm their contact information is accurate. Be sure to send them your updated resume after your call.
Integrate your digital footprint. Using the electronic version of your resume, edit your social media “About” sections and complete your LinkedIn profile to match. Upload a professional head shot across all mediums and get your Twitter house in order. Warning: Don’t forget to review your privacy settings since every search team will Google you.
Keep your eyes on churches and communities rather than jobs. It sounds counter-intuitive but searching for congregations whose ministries and missions suit your skills and passions allows you to see your calling with greater vision. Knowing who you are, what you do well and where you thrive is more valuable than spraying and praying your resume across the country. Don’t chase the title, discern the fit. Being an associate pastor in a stable, steady church offers you a much better quality of life than being a senior pastor of a church full of bullies.
Let your network work for you. Not all networking is created equally. Socializing at denominational events is not the same as asking a trusted colleague to make a call on your behalf. Beyond your handful of references, you should be using your network to support you. A healthy network might include your theological school, peer group, state and regional leaders, former church members, mission partners, family friends, college professors, fellow volunteers, as well as Greenfields. But don’t just have a network, use your network and work for your network - it’s about mutuality!
Bother me, please. If you leave things up to chance and don’t directly ask for help, you’re likely to be searching for a ministry position this time next year. So, I’m asking every minister who reads this to send me YOUR resume or send this article to someone you know if you’re not looking right now. I’m asking you to take the initiative to introduce yourself to me via email, phone or social media - we were all strangers once. I’m asking you to bother me because I work for you. My job is to help you get a job.
Once you’ve contacted your references, cleaned up your resume, and asked for direct referrals, now it’s time to do some Isaiah 40:31 waiting. The kind of waiting that still tries to fly and run and walk even when you feel hidden from and disregarded by God (40:27). In those moments, revisit your calling and understand the camaraderie throughout your connections to affirm and support you. One day you will have the opportunity to share your story with someone in liminal space.