Becoming a Unitarian Universalist Minister

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 with the Unitarian Universalist Association (PDF, 25 pages) (Word) and Appendix (PDF, 35 pages) (Word).

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 2019. Applicants who submit an initial inquiry form to begin the ministerial fellowship process will have access to this system and proceed through the process online. Detailed information and a user’s guide to the online system is accessed through the Ministerial Credentialing Document Management System webpage.

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 Marion Bell at mbell [at] uua [dot] org or Rev. David Pettee at dpettee [at] uua [dot] org.

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.

Additional Information for those Seeking Ministerial Fellowship

• Theological Schools Offering a Masters of Divinity Degree
• Requesting Financial Aid (PDF, 10 pages)
• Information about the Internship Clearinghouse

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.

Additional Links

• Qualifications for Military Chaplaincy
• Economic Realities of the UU Ministry (PDF, 10 pages)