Contract Negotiations
As soon as you accept the verbal offer on offer day, you will soon be interacting with the negotiating team. Ideally, major deal-breakers were discussed and resolved during pre-candidating. You should discuss any areas needing negotiation, listen well to one another, and move forward toward a common resolution of the agreement and compensation.
Relocation costs should be discussed (as of 2018 this is now taxable income, and congregations are advised to account for the extra tax in their offer) as well as all pieces of compensation.
Other elements of the contract should be discussed and resolved. This can take anywhere from minutes to a couple of weeks. You and the negotiating team should agree on all terms of the employment agreement prior to candidating week, so that the contract can be promptly signed after a successful call.
The Church Staff Finances team can be a valuable resource for specific questions.
Requesting major changes to the employment agreement during negotiations is rare and would represent a breach of trust.
Background Check
Congregations are expected to run a criminal background check and sex offender check, which need the minister’s signed agreement. (Please note that credit and motor vehicle checks are both out of bounds.)
For Ministers Currently Serving a Congregation
Ministers currently serving a congregation must notify their congregation that they are a candidate elsewhere before the new congregation can announce their name as candidate.
Departing ministers should talk with the UUA Transitions Team about facilitating next steps for their congregation.
For More Information
Ending a Ministry Well
Congregations and ministers that take the time to conclude a ministry well, to express gratitude and good wishes, set the tone for the next ministry partnership.
Announcing You as Candidate at the New Congregation
The congregation’s announcement of the candidate’s name can be made when:
- There is complete agreement on the contract between the negotiating team and candidate.
- You have released their signed agreement to do a background check.
- If you are currently serving a congregation, you have informed the congregation of your candidacy elsewhere
- You are ready to make an announcement to the new congregation where you are the candidate.
The announcement of the candidate’s name must wait until all the conditions above are met. Once completed, the search team and candidate should agree that the announcement can be made and what information about the candidate can be shared (website is standard).
You as the candidate may want to make a brief greeting video to be shared as part of the announcement.