Hi Jeff

The way I determine exposures is by getting a best possible normal shot with evaluative metering and this will be my start point. This should be done with the camera set to Aperture priority ( very important ) . 
I then switch to manual exposure. You must keep the same aperture or the DOF will vary and ruin the sequence. I then alter the shutter speed to over expose by 4 stops and I take the first shot, I continue taking shots increasing the shutter speed each time  until I have a almost black image . 
That's my range of shots - how many depends on the dynamic range of the scene. 

I shoot in RAW so when processing - batch process making sure you have the white balance set  for the whole batch and no auto controls on which would alter exposures, contrast, saturation,  etc. I then merge the 16bit tiffs.

There is a church interior shot in my gallery which was taken some time ago - I used the same method for this .

R

And every one said, 'If we only live,
We too will go to sea in a Sieve,---
To the hills of the Chankly Bore!'
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Edward Lear
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/jumblies.html