Cover Letters For Ministerial Resumes - Ministry Referral Office The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky Page 2
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8A cover letter is a brief business letter written
• The letter should always be addressed to
to accompany your résumé. It is an important
a specific person, with their title included.
tool in a candidate’s search for a ministry
(An exception would be when a position
position. It serves as a means of introducing
announcement indicates that letters are to
you and your résumé to a potential employer,
be addressed to a search committee.) Avoid
or to a person or office that may assist you by
generic salutations like “To Whom It May
referring your résumé.
Concern.” If needed, an Internet search tool
may assist you in discovering the correct
Anytime you are sending your résumé for
spelling of names and titles.
consideration for a ministry position or
mailing it to someone who will be referring it
• Always customize each cover letter for the
for such positions, it should be accompanied
situation in which you have interest.
by a cover letter. This holds true whether
the résumé is being sent by mail, e-mail, or
• Write your letter with interest and
fax. However, with few exceptions, it is not
enthusiasm, using a positive and friendly, yet
necessary to attach general cover letters to
business-like tone.
copies of your résumé being distributed on
your behalf by a referral assistance person
• In the main body of the text concentrate on
or service. They will write cover letters to
factors most relevant to the organization and
accompany résumés they send to churches or
position in which you have interest.
ministry organizations.
• The letter should be written in a block style
business letter format.
A COVER LETTER’S PURPOSE
As an introductory document a cover letter
• Single space the text of the letter, and double
serves to let the reader know something about
space between paragraphs.
you and your interests in ministry. Its goal is
to enhance a potential employer’s interest in
• Carefully proofread your letter to make
you, or to clarify your ministerial interests and
sure it is free of typographical, spelling
preferences for someone who will be assisting
and grammatical errors. Don’t just rely on
with your search for a ministry opportunity.
your word processing spell check function
It allows you the opportunity to highlight
to catch any errors. Ask a friend or two
significant items in your résumé and to present
to also proofread the letter to check for
relevant information not included in your
such errors and to make certain you are
résumé.
clearly communicating what you intend to
communicate.
WRITING A COVER LETTER
• Print your letter on high-quality paper.
Because the cover letter will be the reader’s
White paper, or paper which matches your
first introduction to you, care should be taken
résumé, is appropriate.
to make it a positive first impression. The letter
will not only summarize your preparation
• Neatly type the envelope in which the cover
for ministry, but it will also exemplify
letter and résumé will be mailed.
your writing and communication skills.
Careful attention to detail is important. The
• When faxing or e-mailing a cover letter and
miscellaneous pointers which follow will help
résumé it is important to follow-up with a
you write cover letters which can effectively
phone call to make certain they were received.
communicate information about your interests
in, and preparation for, ministry opportunities.
• Make a copy of each letter you send to keep
in your files.
• The letter should be brief – limited to one
page and consisting of three or four targeted,
carefully-worded paragraphs
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