I agree with Thomas Campbell, who wrote, "Better to be courted and jilted, than never to be courted at all."

But courtship is not easy-especially for pulpit committees and candidates. I have compiled seven types of pulpit committee "dates" I've been on.

1.The Blind Date.

I had never been on a blind date—until I went into the ministry. The scenario begins with a phone call or letter from some unknown church asking for my resume. Usually I am willing to risk the postage, though the church could just as well be a militia group as an assembly of believers.

Then the church sends me a detailed questionnaire. What is not included, however, is a single scrap of information about the church. I wonder, Is filling out this form a waste of time? I know only the name and address of the church. It's as if the church is saying, "We want to find out everything about you, without telling you anything about us."

One such church had my resume, philosophy of ministry, summary of ministry experiences, ...