If you’re a pastor or minister looking for a Pastoral Supervisor, asking the right questions is key to finding a good fit and starting off on the right foot.
In recent conversations I’ve had with pastors & ministers about pastoral supervision, some have wondered what questions to ask potential pastoral supervisors to help them find a good fit. Here’s some suggestions that may help you find a pastoral supervisor to work with.
(See an additional note at the end for ministers in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney)
Questions for potential Pastoral Supervisors:
-What do you see as the purpose of pastoral supervision?
-What is your approach to pastoral supervision? Can you describe a typical session.
-Are you able to help clients reflect on spiritual, theological, and ethical issues from a biblical perspective?
-Do you offer both individual and group supervision?
-Do you offer sessions online or in person, or a combination of both?
-If we meet in person, would I need to come to you or are you able to come to me? If you’re able to come to me, do you charge extra for travel?
-What is your availability, and is there a minimum number of sessions per year that I would need to commit to?
-How much do you charge?
Pastoral supervision is becoming the norm for many pastors & ministers, providing valuable support and ongoing development. When looking for a pastoral supervisor, asking the right questions is key to finding a good fit and starting off on the right foot. If you’re curious about how pastoral supervision can enhance your ministry and help you to thrive, feel free to get in touch.
An additional note for ministers in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Beginning in 2024, certain ‘classes’ of ministers will be required to undertake pastoral supervision with an approved pastoral supervisor. In 2024 new Rectors and Assistant Ministers who graduated from the 3-year MT&D Ministry Development Program in 2023 will be required to undertake pastoral supervision. For people in this situation, and future classes of ministers for whom pastoral supervision will be mandatory, you’ll probably want to ask the following question first:
Are you an approved (or provisionally approved) pastoral supervisor for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney?
If the answer to this question is “no”, then there may not be much point moving to the following questions! However, please note: not many pastoral supervisors will be able to answer this question at this stage. The process to approve pastoral supervisors is underway but is still in the early stages. The basic criteria for approval as a pastoral supervisor, as outlined in the diocesan policy, include: holding a recognised qualification in Pastoral Supervision, membership of AAOS (the professional body), and professional indemnity insurance.