Meet Your Congregation’s Needs
Before a congregation searches for a minister, UUA Congregational Life and/or Transitions Team staff will meet with leadership to discuss your ministry needs, context, and history. This helps customize a recommendation for a mutually satisfying match.
This overview describes the benefits, costs, goals, and timing of different kinds of ministry.
Download: Types of Ministry (PDF)
Settled Ministry
Settled ministry is an open-ended, covenantal partnership between a congregation and minister. Settled ministers are called by a congregation, usually through a 90–95% affirmative vote, and the relationship has no predetermined end date.
In most cases, settled ministry is full-time. In a contract-to-call situation, a settled ministry can be any percentage of time.
Duration: Unlimited.
Best for: Congregations with more than 125 members which can sustain full-time, fairly compensated ministry for 4+ years.
Unique features: The search process takes most of a year and requires a serious volunteer commitment from seven search team members; the new ministry partnership begins with a congregational vote, not a board hire.
Cost:
- $1,000–$3,500 for UUA search support depending on the congregation’s level of support for the UUA’s Annual Program Fund.
- The search team needs a budget of $10,000+ for their year of work.
Search timing: June to May of the last year of an interim or developmental ministry.
Related Resources
- The Settled Ministry Search Handbook for Congregations
The UUA Transitions Team will partner with you throughout the comprehensive process. - Settled Minister Search Guide
Ministers interested in settled ministry positions will be interacting with a search team who has spend the better part of a year synthesizing the congregation’s hopes into their congregational record.
Transitional Ministry
All non-settled ministries are considered transitional ministries, including contract ministry. Transitional ministries are board-hired, contract-based ministries designed for a specific season of congregational life.
They generally have the following in common:
- A shorter search timeline.
- Accountability to the governing board of the congregation.
- A mutually agreed-upon contract with a specific term.
Contract Ministry
Contract ministry is a board-hired transitional ministry that can be full- or part-time. It may include transitional ministry goals and is often used by smaller congregations, congregations exploring contract-to-call, or congregations uncertain about the sustainability or direction of their ministry.
Duration: Usually one-year, renewable agreements. A multi-year agreement may be preferred when a contract-to-call process is desired or when the ministry has a developmental focus.
Best for congregations:
- Congregations which hope to be in a ministry partnership for a while before entering into an open-ended call.
- Congregations which are uncertain about the sustainability or direction of their ministry.
- Congregations with fewer than about 125 members.
These searches can also be used for assistant and associate positions. Second minister searches should be timed to the settled search.
Goals: The ministry may be like any other ministry or may be limited to specific tasks like preaching and pastoral care, especially for part-time ministries.
Unique features: Contract ministry is the only transitional ministry which can lead to an open-ended call to a settled ministry after a couple of years together.
Search timing: The most favorable timing is December–April, but it can happen any time.
Related Resources
- Guide to Contract Ministry for Congregations
An option for under-resourced congregations, those who could not find a match in the settled search process, and for part-time searches. - Contract Minister Search Guide This guide provides the process and recommendations for ministers interested in full-time or part-time contract ministry positions.
- The Contract to Call Process for Ministry
Learn how a contract ministry may transition to a settled call.
Interim Ministry
Interim ministry is a full-time, board-hired transitional ministry designed to help a congregation between settled ministries. Interim ministers are not eligible for a call.
Duration: Usually 24 months through two annually renewable agreements.
Best for: Congregations with more than 125 members between settled ministries or before a developmental ministry.
Goals: The minister assists the congregation in:
- Moving beyond its last ministry.
- Equipping itself for a new, different ministry.
- Examining practices that may or may not serve the congregation well.
- Assisting the congregation through the emotional process of transition.
- Connecting the congregation to needed resources.
Search timing: April–May.
Related Resources
- Guide to Interim Ministry for Congregations
Interim ministry is a transitional ministry designed to help a congregation between settled ministries. - Professional Interim Minister Guide
Interim ministry is a calling that is remarkedly different than settled ministry in that it is a time of transition and transformation.
Developmental Ministry
Developmental ministry is a full-time, board-hired transitional ministry for congregations facing repeated short ministries, chronic conflict, unique challenges, or significant structural and cultural change. Developmental ministers are not eligible for a call.
Duration: Usually 5–7 years through annually renewable agreements.
Best for congregations:
- Congregations with a history of repeated short ministries or chronic conflict.
- Congregations facing unique opportunities and challenges.
- Congregations that need significant structural or cultural changes and have the self-awareness, desire, and capacity to make them.
Goals: In partnership with Congregational Life staff, the congregation identifies a few significant cultural and structural change goals for the ministry before the search.
Unique features: Inclusion in the developmental ministry program must be approved by Congregational Life staff. The UUA Transitions Team and Congregational Life staff curate the lists of applicants for experience relevant to the congregation’s goals.
Cost: $1,000/year fee for UUA support for the first and second year for congregations which do not support the UUA’s Annual Program Fund at the Honor level. There is no fee for Honor congregations.
Search timing: January–April, with months of preparation leading up to the search.
Related Resources
- Guide to Developmental Ministry for Congregations
An option for congregations with recurrent short ministries, chronic conflict, or needing other systemic and/or transformational work. - Developmental Minister Guide
Developmental ministry is for experienced ministers with skills and interest in assisting congregations move through their developmental goals.
Short-Term Ministry
Short-term ministry is a board-hired transitional ministry for targeted support, such as sabbatical coverage, an unexpected departure, an off-cycle need, or a specific project.
Duration: 2–6 months, may not be extended.
Best for:
- Congregations which need coverage for a minister’s sabbatical.
- Congregations with a limited ministry partnership to help with an off-cycle ministry need until they can conduct a search during the UUA’s annual search cycle.
- Congregations needing support for a project which would benefit from a professional ministry partner.
Goals: Usually basic ministry or project support.
Search timing: The most favorable timing is December–April, but it can happen any time.
Related Resource
Guide to Short-Term Ministry
The UUA has creative ways to support short-term ministry needs of congregations, such as sabbatical coverage or an unexpected departure.