ELCA Behavioral Interview Training

March 27 – 28, 2020

Location: TBD

The ELCA Domestic Mission Unit uses a Behavioral Interview to help select leaders to serve as mission developers for new congregations.  The Behavioral Interview process is an extensive interview which attempts to paint a more complete picture of the individual, their motivations and their gifts for ministry.

A Behavioral Interview involves more than one interviewer for each interview and so the Domestic Mission Unit is seeking to train additional people in the technique.  In this training, you will learn about the 15 characteristics that have been identified as important to the characteristics of a leader starting new churches and redeveloping existing congregations.  While most people would not conduct a full behavioral interview in day-to-day life, the approach to interviewing, the suggested questions and the approach to processing interview responses can prove fruitful in other areas of life and in other areas of ministry discernment like the candidacy process.

Behavioral Interviewing is first and foremost a discernment process.  It is a tool used by church leaders and placement personnel to discover if a person possesses the gifts and skills that will allow them to thrive in calls to mission starts or redevelopments.  It is not a pass or fail instrument.  It provides a structure for gathering valuable information which can lead to a highly informed assessment of potential effectiveness in these challenging calls.

The training for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod will take place on Friday, March 27 from 9 AM to 6 PM (including lunch and dinner) and on Saturday, March 28 from 9 AM to 4 PM (including lunch).  The Domestic Mission Unit will cover the cost of the materials and meals.  If travel costs are an obstacle, there may be some funding available to help with travel.

The Domestic Mission Unit asks that those who complete the training be available to assist with two interviews over the next year (in-person or by Zoom).

If you are interested in being trained as a behavioral interviewer or if you have additional questions about the training, please contact the Rev. William Flippin at or 770.289.7951

Your partner in ministry,

Rev. Dr. William Edward Flippin, Jr., Director of Evangelical Mission (SEPA)