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References. By this time in their dating relationship, both minister and congregation will have exchanged a significant amount of data. No surprises has been their mutual goal. But, so far, both parties have presented only their own interpretation of themselves, which may be colored by what they have…

The practice of reference checking is equally wise for the clergy. One colleague suggest that a prospective pastor solicit information from “a neighbor near the church who does not attend, a near-by minister within the same denomination, and two individuals who left the church recently, one happy with…

There is probably a psychological resistance to checking out the references for someone who might become our pastor. As Christians, most of us want to believe the best about other, particularly others in ministry. We may have to overcome some natural antipathy to do a good job here. Most people that…