Ministerial Transitions

The health and vitality of our congregations depends in part on a good fit between a congregation and their minister. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) helps to connect ministers searching for a position with congregations who want to find a minister.

The UUA offers information and resources to help congregants, ministers, ministerial search representatives, compensation consultants, and regional staff throughout the search process for all types of ministers: assistant, contract, developmental, interim, or settled.

Congregations seeking ¾ or full time ministries receive support from both the UUA Transitions Office and UUA regional staff; congregations seeking ministries of less than ¾ time receive support primarily from regional staff.

For questions about the materials or the search process, please contact the UUA Transitions Office at transitions [at] uua [dot] org.

Congregational Leaders and Ministers

Regarding the Upcoming Interim Search!

If you are planning an interim search, please

1. Do not create an interim application in the current settlement system. The UUA is developing a new search system to replace it which we expect will be available later in March.
2. Send an email to transitions [at] uua [dot] org to let us know. Include your congregation’s full name, city, and state and the name and email for your contact person.
3. Also tell us if the interim ministry will be full-time or what percent of time and the planned duration (two years is recommended).

These documents are essential reading for both lay leaders and for ministers.

• The Settlement Handbook (PDF, 49 pages)
  The comprehensive guide to the process to call a minister for both congregations and ministers.
• Transitional Ministry Handbook (PDF, 45 pages) (Word)
  The comprehensive guide for all transitional ministries. Includes sample contracts for both interim and consulting ministries. 
• The Hire-to-Call Process (PDF, 8 pages)
  Provides an outline for the process of hiring a second (or third, etc.) minister with the intent to call in the future. By Rev. Dr. Ian Evison.
• 2012 Joint Recommendations Concerning Ministerial Agreements (Word, 24 pages) (PDF, 21 pages)
  Background information for all ministerial agreements and sample letters of call for settled ministries.
  • 2019 Draft Ministerial Agreement (PDF) (Congregational Boards, Ministerial Search Committees, and Ministers are invited to submit comments on the text of the new draft ministerial agreement.)
  • 2019 Draft Ministerial Agreement Cover Letter (PDF)
• Benefit Transition/Coverage Continuation Form
  Courtesy of the Office of Church Staff Finances.
• Year by Year in Settlement (PDF). Graphs and explanations for recent settlement trends.

Congregational Leaders

Resources here are of particular use to lay leaders shepherding their congregation through the ministerial transition.

• Notice of Ministerial Transition
  Informs the Transitions Office and your Regional Transitions Program Manager that your congregation is going into ministerial search.
• Ministerial Search Committee Calendar (PDF) (XLS) (Revised July 2017)
• The Resource Guide for Ministerial Search Committees
  An essential supplement to The Settlement Handbook for congregations.
• Compensation Calculator (Excel) (PDF)
  Assists in calculating the UUA-recommended cost of ministry for any ministerial position.
• Responsible Staffing (PDF, 14 pages)
  • Oxford Document Management Company
  • Church Mutual Insurance Company
• Guide to and rationale behind the process of screening ministers. Also see President's Letter (PDF) and Responsible Staffing Forms (PDF). Companies that conduct criminal background checks:
• Guidelines for Part-time Ministry Searches (PDF)
  A brief description of what the Transitions Office can offer to congregations seeking ministers for part-time (less than 3/4 time) positions.
• Watch The Interim Opportunity. Essential viewing for congregations at the beginning of their ministerial transition period.

Ministers

These resources are useful for ministers in the midst of or considering a transition.

• Opportunities for Ministry
  An up-to-the-minute list of all congregations publicly in transitions.
• How to Case a Church (PDF, 59 pages)
  (Finding & Getting the Church of Your Choice)
  The classic (3rd edition) by Peter Spilman Raible.

Resources

• Ministerial Settlement System
• How to Go Online (Settlement System)
• Information for Regional Transitions Coaches (RTCs)