12 Random Questions I’d Like to Ask Pastors

I’m just thinking out loud today, wondering about questions I’d like to ask pastors if I could get them all in the same room. Here are some of those questions:

1. Do you prefer to officiate at weddings or funerals? I may be wrong, but I think many pastors would rather lead a funeral.
2. Are you naturally evangelistic, or do you have to force yourself to do it? I don’t know a lot of pastors whose hearts just beat for evangelism.
3. Would you hire again all the current staff you have? I realize that’s a difficult question to answer, but the response will tell you a lot.
4. How much do you pray each week? Previous studies have suggested that pastors don’t pray nearly like church members might assume.
5. What would you say to your “young ministry self” if you were starting all over again? I know what I’d say to myself: “Don’t assume you’re God’s gift to the kingdom.”
6. What’s your least favorite part of doing pastoral ministry? For me, I think it’s having confrontational meetings – even though I know they’re necessary at times.
7. How important is physical exercise to you? I fear that many pastors betray an undisciplined life in general when they don’t take good care of themselves.
8. How many times have you thought about quitting ministry? Maybe the answer is 0 in your case, but I know pastors who’ve thought about it more than once.
9. In what area does your preaching need to improve? If you haven’t thought about this question, it’s possible your preaching hasn’t improved much in some time. All of us have room for improvement.
10. Would your spouse and kids all want to do ministry again? I’m not sure how some folks would answer this question.
11. Do you look forward to going to work every day? every Sunday? I hope so, though I doubt everybody does.
12. What steps have you taken to guard against moral failure? I trust we can all learn from pastors who’ve worked hard to finish well.

Readers, what other random questions would you want to ask pastors?