(See the previous two posts for an explanation).
How have your family, childhood, and adolescent experiences influenced your life of faith and call to ministry?
You've worked in two other fields. How do your previous experiences affect your understanding and practice of ministry? Is there anything you would like to share about work in the "secular world" which might be helpful to those of us who have spent our entire adult lives in ministry?
What's it been like to go to seminary as a second (OK, third) career student? What have been your favorite courses? Where have you learned the most? Have you had any internship or volunteer experiences you'd like to tell us about?
Could you explain what the term "spiritual direction" means and what your training as a spiritual director has involved?
What did you find enriching about CPE? Do you think it's a worthwhile training ground for future pastors?
What can you share with us about pastoral care in light of your experience since the death of your son? What have you learned about suicide? About parental loss?
What passages of Scripture have been especially meaningful in your life?
What interests you so much about interfaith dialogue? How do you imagine incorporating that priority into your ministry in the church?
I kind of like my questions . . . . If I were questioning me at this stage in the process, these are the sorts of things I'd like to know something about if I were limited to questions about call, life, experience, etc. and precluded from asking about theological matters.
Note to self for any similar future scenarios: Organize what you'd like to communicate about yourself very carefully in your mind so that you have access to it and can speak about it regardless of how the questions are framed.
A learning experience . . . .
7 comments:
I once had an interview which turned into something of a vocab quiz, finally I said something like this... "if you want someone who can teach I think I can do that, but if you want a walking dictionary you should keep looking."
another time I was asked about what I would do about drug use.
me: "follow school policy."
them: "what if the school did not have a policy?"
me: "I wouldn't want to work at such a school"
another job I didn't get.
You get it.
I know a very cool woman who was ordained this past February. She told me once (while I was deciding whether to resign, actually), that the committees almost never ask the questions you want them to, and you have to figure out how to tell them what you want them to know. It sounds like you've figured that out. (One becomes one's own press secretary.)
What you describe in your last paragraph is exactly how political candidates prepare for televised "debates." Which are not really debates, but rather opportunities for the candidates to expound upon their talking points.
So I guess the concept exists...
Oh....and--
Happy Birthday!? :-]
Your questions are terrific and meaningful.
'speak about it regardless of how the questions are framed. '
Now you get it!
Actually, I can't understand why they didn't ask the questions you would have asked. But I have a sense, every time I watch how sausage is made, that the makers of sausage have no idea what they are doing. They don't choose the ingredients. They don't choose the seasoning. They may not even like sausage.
They just grind 'em and pack 'em.
Post a Comment