Pastor Resume [Sample & How to Write]

Text Format

SUMMARY

Dedicated Pastor with 10+ years of experience in spiritual counseling, program management, volunteer training and recruitment, congregational leadership, and community services management. Committed to shepherding individuals to Christ, engaging the community in missionary work, and devising strategies to achieve long-term operational goals.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The River Church, Allegan, MI
Pastor, September 2014–present

Serve as a pastor for a multi-ethnic and multi-site church with 2000+ members, 100+ pathfinders, 55+ adventurers, and a vibrant elementary/middle school of 225+ students
Multiplied the size of congregation from 15 to 550+ in the first 4 years
Direct a summer day camp for elementary school kids and all activities of youth camp meeting program of 160+ participants for 4 years with countless commitments for Christ
Deliver counseling and direction to individuals dealing with a variety of issues, including marriage and family counseling, substance abuse, addictions, and mental health problems
Lead community outreach such as 30-hour famines, feeding the homeless, salon days for the homeless, creating and distributing homeless bags, and intentional acts of kindness

LifeQuest Church, Grand Rapids, MI
Pastor, June 2010–August 2014

Led a team of 100+ volunteers and a full-time staff of 5+ to coordinate video shoots and manage projects, website, and budget for the ministry
Guided over 200+ students, their family members, and adults through baptismal studies and baptism while growing volunteer base by 30%
Directed 300+ Vacation Bible School participants and increased youth and young adult leadership to 70+ youth and young adult staff through consistent coaching and training
Managed all volunteer activities such as hiring, training, and directing volunteers for community services and keeping records of volunteers for committees and ministries

EDUCATION

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
Bachelor of Science in Religion, Minor in Christian Counseling, May 2010

Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.8/4.0)

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook, and MS Access
Bilingual, fluent in Spanish and English
Web and tech-savvy, require little to no training

How To Write A Pastor Resume

Learning how to put together a resume for the specific job(s) you want will help you land more interviews.

There’s at least one church in almost every town in the United States, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get a job as a pastor. Serving as both a leader and advisor, congregations need someone with a diverse set of skills like managing, organizing, and counseling.

A desire to help people isn’t enough. You have to prove that you have the ability and experience to do it successfully as well. That’s why having a strong, well-written pastor resume is crucial when applying for positions with a new congregation.

Use these three tips when writing your pastor resume to give your application the best chance of success.

1. Highlight your pastor resume skills

When hiring a pastor to be a guiding force in peoples’ lives, employers want someone who avoids making mistakes. While “to err is human,” avoiding errors is not only achievable, but expected. Prove that you have those abilities with a strong resume skills section.

Here are some of the top pastor skills to include on your resume to prove you have what it takes to help your congregation grow and succeed:

Public speaking
Teaching
Negotiation
Persuasion
Critical thinking
Time management
Problem-solving
Management skills
General computer skills
Decision making
Communication skills
General people skills
Counseling and therapy
Coordination

Working as a pastor relies primarily on your soft skills. However, if you can add in a few hard skills to create a good mix, like project management software (Trello or Zoho, for instance), that only helps your application.

While there aren’t any certificates required for the job, most pastors have at least a bachelor’s degree — if not a master’s — in theology, philosophy, and/or religious studies. If you have any of those degrees, employers want to know about them, so make sure your resume education section is strong as well.

2. Tailor your pastor resume to the job post

Every congregation is different, which means every church’s needs are unique. If you use a general resume for each job application, then you’ll have a hard time proving that you can meet the specific needs of the employer.

But if you tailor your resume to each job posting, then you’ll impress the hiring manager. Adjust your resume to include information that directly addresses the requirements, preferences, and other qualifications laid out in the job description.

Also, cut information that isn’t relevant. If you have experience speaking in front of a microphone for an audience of thousands, that could be great for a megachurch, but isn’t necessarily helpful for a small congregation.

3. Pair your resume with a strong pastor cover letter

Working as a pastor is all about the personal commitment. While a few pastors are famously rich, for the most part, it’s all about connection and meaning. If you want to work in the church, show that helping people is your strongest motivation.

You can prove the strength of your convictions, and make your application stand out, by including a cover letter with your resume. When you know how to write a cover letter, you can use it to show why you care about the work and showcase times you’ve successfully helped members of your current or former congregation.

Always address the hiring manager by name, express your passion for the work, and prove that you’re the best person for the job. You can show you’re the ideal candidate by including your professional achievements, praise, and awards you’ve earned.