Rev. Rob Hardies preaches.
Ministers
Unitarian Universalist ministers do many of the same things as ministers in other religions. The primary role of the minister is as spiritual leader and chief administrator of a UU congregation. They lead worship services and give sermons, challenge and guide the congregation’s spiritual focus, provide pastoral care and counseling to members of their congregation, conduct special services including weddings and funerals, and help to represent Unitarian Universalism in our communities.Some Unitarian Universalist ministers also serve roles outside of congregations, from living their ministries in non-profit social justice organizations to chaplaincies in universities, hospitals, the military and elsewhere.
Unitarian Universalist ministry includes men and women, heterosexual and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and people of many different abilities.
Unitarian Universalism believes in learned rather than called clergy. What separates ministers from lay members within Unitarian Universalism is the graduate level training that constitutes the ordination process, rather than a special summons from God. Because of this, lay leaders are also highly respected within our congregations.
The members of some Unitarian Universalist congregations decide to lead the congregation together, without a minister. These congregations are sometimes called ‘fellowships.’
Although it is very rare, our congregations do sometimes ordain and/or hire a minister who has not been officially approved (fellowshipped) by the Unitarian Universalist Association. Each congregation has the authority to choose its own leaders.
For information on becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister, please see the "Ordination" page.
For more information contact mpldirectoratuuadotorg.
Last updated on Monday, March 19, 2007.
