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.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
2.) I can handle unpredictable events.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
3.) When appropriate, I can be persistent in the face of rejection.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
4.) I can minister to people who are in ethically ambiguous situations.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
5.) Ministering to people who are LGBTQ+ is awkward for me.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
6.) I can function effectively under the direction of a secular boss.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
7.) I am able to act decisively in highly stressful situations.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
8.) I can prioritize competing urgent needs.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
9.) Being a Lutheran in a pluralistic context enthuses me.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
10.) I recognize the need to care for myself.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
11.) I struggle in my interactions with non-LCMS ministers if there are no other LCMS colleagues around.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
12.) Engaging people of other ethnicities is a struggle for me.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
13.) Being able to preach or teach frequently in a normal church setting is important to me.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
14.) My Lutheran identity is important to me when surrounded by conflicting ideas.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
15.) I find the very thought of institutional chaplaincy or professional Christian counseling intriguing.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
16.) People find my presence calming in stressful situations.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
17.) I'm comfortable interacting with people of other religions.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
18.) I think of myself as being adventurous.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
19.) I am comfortable developing relationships outside an LCMS context.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
20.) I sometimes think that parish ministry may not be the best fit for me.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
21.) I am good at maintaining relationships with people who disagree with me.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
22.) Others seek me out to talk about deep, personal matters.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
23.) I would prefer to avoid as many evening meetings as possible.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
24.) I am aware of my feelings and am pretty good at reading the feelings of others.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
25.) I am uncomfortable reflecting on why I do the things I do.

This accurately describes me.This is true of me only to an extent.This does not describe me very well.
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.
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Assessment Points Total
Want us to email your results?
This will create a submission in our system, but your responses will only be identified by your email address. Individual results won't be shared but may be used as part of a statistical analysis.
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.
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