Self-Assessment Inventory

  • Self-Assessment Inventory

    To Identify Candidates for Specialized Pastoral/Spiritual Ministry

  • Am I suited for Specialized Pastoral Ministry (SPM)?

    This inventory will help you answer that question.

    The closer your choices are to the “ideal" specialized, spiritual care minister — commissioned or ordained — the more reasonable it would be for you to explore Specialized Pastoral Ministry.

    Please remember that no one possesses the perfect set of personal characteristics for either parish ministry or SPM.

    This inventory is designed to help you evaluate if God is leading you to serve in SPM.

    Note that some of the questions must be answered as if you were already serving in an SPM vocation (institutional chaplain, Christian counselor, clinical pastoral educator).

    Choose the one response closest to the truth for you.
    Be honest with yourself. What you learn will be for your eyes only.

  • 1.) I am comfortable around people of other races, cultures, religions or sexual orientations.
  • 2.) I can handle unpredictable events.
  • 3.) When appropriate, I can be persistent in the face of rejection.
  • 4.) I can minister to people who are in ethically ambiguous situations.
  • 5.) Ministering to people who are LGBTQ+ is awkward for me.
  • 6.) I can function effectively under the direction of a secular boss.
  • 7.) I am able to act decisively in highly stressful situations.
  • 8.) I can prioritize competing urgent needs.
  • 9.) Being a Lutheran in a pluralistic context enthuses me.
  • 10.) I recognize the need to care for myself.
  • 11.) I struggle in my interactions with non-LCMS ministers if there are no other LCMS colleagues around.
  • 12.) Engaging people of other ethnicities is a struggle for me.
  • 13.) Being able to preach or teach frequently in a normal church setting is important to me.
  • 14.) My Lutheran identity is important to me when surrounded by conflicting ideas.
  • 15.) I find the very thought of institutional chaplaincy or professional Christian counseling intriguing.
  • 16.) People find my presence calming in stressful situations.
  • 17.) I'm comfortable interacting with people of other religions.
  • 18.) I think of myself as being adventurous.
  • 19.) I am comfortable developing relationships outside an LCMS context.
  • 20.) I sometimes think that parish ministry may not be the best fit for me.
  • 21.) I am good at maintaining relationships with people who disagree with me.
  • 22.) Others seek me out to talk about deep, personal matters.
  • 23.) I would prefer to avoid as many evening meetings as possible.
  • 24.) I am aware of my feelings and am pretty good at reading the feelings of others.
  • 25.) I am uncomfortable reflecting on why I do the things I do.

  • Point values for your answers

  • Remember, only you can interpret the significance of your points. However, the higher the score (closer to 50 points), the more reasonable it would seem to further explore a vocation in Specialized Pastoral Ministry.

  • If you don't want your results emailed, either print this page with your results entered or download a blank copy of the assessment and point key.

  • Should be Empty: