Interview with Chris Brauns

In follow up to the review of the new book, When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search, I have interviewed the author, Dr. Chris Brauns. Dr. Brauns has graciously offered his time to discuss his new book while delving into some of the issues faced with pastoral search committees.



Question: I found the subject of the book to be interesting because there are not a lot of books out there dealing with pastoral search committees. What prompted you to write When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search?

Chris Brauns: Virtually none of the books I surveyed paid any real attention to preaching. So, the first thing I did was focus my doctoral thesis on how pastoral search committees could be motivated and equipped to call a pastor who will preach the Word. I later showed how the Word should lead the entire pastoral search.


Question: Starting out from scratch, what are the first steps the search committee should do when formulating itself? Generally speaking, what kind of people should compromise of a search committee?

Chris Brauns: The search committee needs to be composed of people who have the respect of the congregation and can lead them. But, above all, they need to be people who are committed to calling a pastor who will focus on the Word and the Gospel. I agree with Mark Dever that ideally the search would be led by qualified elders. Often a church's constitution stipulates otherwise.


Question: One of the comments you make in the introduction of the book is that the pastoral search parallels dating at every stage of the relationship. This is an interesting point. Can you please share what some of those parallels are?

Chris Brauns: As one who has gone through the process, it feels like dating at certain points. Maybe that's why I used that illustration in the first place. Objectively, it is similar in that, even though there are many wonderful candidates out there, only one is the right one. Further, in either situation, it is critical that a wise decision is made.


Question: You state in the book that, “In calling a pastor, your church’s first and foremost responsibility is to form a Word-centered pastoral search committee.” Can you please briefly describe what the heart of Word-centered pastoral search committee will entail verses one that is not Word-centered?

Chris Brauns: A Word centered committee will take its queues first from Scripture. I suggest in my book that Titus would be a wonderful book for a pastoral search committee to study. It is all about appointing elders and it is rich both practically and theologically. In contrast, many search committees end up gravitating to interpersonal skills and interviewing skills rather than really evaluating if a particular candidate will shepherd the flock in a Word centered way.


Question: What are some ways a search committee can allow pragmatic concerns to guide their search?

Chris Brauns: Often search committees experience what is sometimes called the "pendulum effect." That is, they hire out of reaction to the previous pastor. Another thing that happens is that they run out of time and hurry the entire process rather than carefully doing due diligence

Question: Your book contains numerous chapters on expository preaching. You explain that some search committees when evaluating the preaching of a candidate tend to focus on the “splash” of the preaching in a similar way one can focus on the splash of a diver when jumping into the pool. With expository preaching, what are some common components of the “splash” that search committees can gravitate toward?

Chris Brauns: It is easy for a search committee to be impressed by a preacher who has an engaging personality and who tells funny and interesting stories. I don't think it's wrong to use humorous illustrations. I do it often. But, search committees and churches looking for a pastor need to carefully consider, "Is this a candidate who will consistently open up the Scriptures and feed us a meal of the Word?"


All churches want great preaching. A church looking for a pastor needs to stop and agree about what constitutes good preaching. One of the major goals of my book was to help a local church gain a better understanding of how to be like the Bereans so that they can evaluate preaching (Acts 17:11-12).


Question: Some search committees struggle with a loss of direction and focus. Some even focus on the subjective and then start to “major on the minors” which is discussed in the book. What advice can you give to the pastoral candidate when encountering a search committee where these kinds of issues are being displayed?

Chris Brauns: If at all possible, bring in outside help from a wise, experienced pastor or leader who will help the church move forward in a Christ-centered way. Churches are often reluctant to do this because of pride, or their budget, but it will benefit them greatly if they get wise counsel.


Question: What do you want readers to take away from the book the most?


Chris Brauns: I pray that readers will take away a great sense of urgency to prayerfully call a pastor in a Word-centered way, who will shepherd their church in a Word-centered way.