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Becoming a Unitarian Universalist Minister

Do You Feel Called to the Ministry?

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 challenge us to be our best selves.

Unitarian Universalist (UU) ministers are approved or “credentialed” for service by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). The UUA’s Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) oversees the process of training and credentialing UU ministers. Once approved by the MFC, ministers enter into ongoing professional relationship or “fellowship” with one another and with the UUA.

Update on New (embedded) MFC Competencies and Reading List

To all Unitarian Universalist aspirants and candidates for ministerial fellowship:

The new Ministerial Fellowship Committee ministerial competencies and embedded reading list is now available, and is included in the Requirements for Ministerial Fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association (PDF) and Appendix (PDF).

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.

Any person who enters into aspirant status after March 1, 2017 will be held accountable to the new competencies and new embedded reading list.

The Ministerial Credentialing Office staff are currently in collaboration with our Informational Technology colleagues to try to make the new competency forms and embedded reading list interactive and online, and as soon as this project is complete, you will be notified.

Should you have questions about these changes, please be directly in touch with either Alicia LeBlanc at aleblanc [at] uua [dot] org or Rev. David Pettee at dpettee [at] uua [dot] org.

Preparation for UU Ministry

These pages describe the process of preparing for ministerial fellowship with the UUA.

Stages of Preparation—Learn more about what it takes to become a UU minister.

Transferring Credentials from Another Religious Group or Seeking Plural Fellowship

In Care Programs—These networks for students are one of the ways UUA staff and others support those who are preparing for ministry.

Requirements for Ministerial Fellowship with the UUA

This booklet and appendix include all of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee’s requirements for fellowship:

Additional requirements from the MFC:

Theological Schools
Administering Financial Aid (PDF)
Supporting opportunities for internships
Required academic and professional competencies
MFC Required Reading can be found in the Requirements for Fellowship Appendix (PDF)

More Information

If you are interested in becoming a UU minister, you are encouraged to contact the UUA’s Ministerial Credentialing Office, whose staff can consult with you about your plans guide you through the process of ministerial preparation. The Ministerial Credentialing Office also works closely with the RSCC and the Internship Clearinghouse. Email mco [at] uua [dot] org for more information.