Becoming a UU Minister
Do You Have a Ministerial Calling?
Ministry is a life-changing and fulfilling profession. Serving in congregations, hospitals, the military and the community, ministers are spiritual leaders who help us explore life’s deepest questions and challenge us to be our best selves.
Unitarian Universalist ministers are credentialed for service by the Unitarian Universalist Association's Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC), which oversees the process of training and credentialing for Unitarian Universalist ministry.
MFC Competencies and Reading List
The MFC ministerial competencies and embedded reading list is included in the Requirements for Ministerial Fellowship Booklet and Appendix on Preparatory Stages of Becoming a Minister.
Any person who is in aspirant or candidate status prior to March 1, 2017, will have the option of preparing for ministerial fellowship using the existing seventeen competencies and reading list, or they may prepare for fellowship using the seven new competencies and the new embedded reading list.
A link to the 2010 MFC documents and competencies is located in the Requirements for Ministerial Fellowship Booklet and the Appendix.
Any person who enters into aspirant status after March 1, 2017, will be held accountable to the new competencies and new embedded reading list.
MFC Online Document Management System Update
The Ministerial Credentialing Office (MCO) is currently in collaboration with Informational Technology Services (ITS) to make the new competency forms and embedded reading list interactive and online. The MCO aims to have the system available in 2022.
Anyone who is currently in the process will continue to use the MFC Requirements Booklet and MFC Appendix.
Should you have questions about any of these changes, please contact Credentialing and Professional Development.
Preparation for Unitarian Universalist Ministerial Fellowship
The following links describe the process of preparing for ministerial fellowship with the UUA:
- Stages of Preparation: Learn more about what it takes to become a Unitarian Universalist minister.
- Transferring Credentials from Another Religious Group or Seeking Plural Fellowship: Policy for ministers seeking transfer and plural standing status.
- Ministerial Formation Program: This network is being directed by the Unitarian Universalist Minister’s Association (UUMA) for aspirants and candidates preparing for the Unitarian Universalist ministry.
More Information
If you are interested in becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister, you are encouraged to contact the UUA’s Ministerial Credentialing Office, whose staff can consult with you about the process for ministerial fellowship. You can reach them at mco@uua.org.