Calendar FAQ 7
Here is more detail about what to expect during candidating week, and afterward.
Overview of Phase 7 Calendar
| Task | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Candidating week | Late April-Early May |
| Congregation submits Notice of Call/contract | Soon after candidating wee |
| Ending the interim ministry well | May-July |
| Arrival | August 1 |
| Start-up/covenanting with UUA staff support | Starting that first fall through following spring |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are spouses and children welcome during candidating week?
Yes. Participation levels should be left up to the minister and their family. The family also may only be able to come for part of the week due to school or other commitments.
Why 90-95% for a call vote? Our by-laws say we only need 2/3 affirmative votes.
If more than 5-10% of the members of the congregation vote against the minister, that constitutes a significant group within the congregation—enough to be very problematic were the minister to accept the call.
Paper ballot or voice vote?
Most congregations use paper ballots, though it is worth checking to see if the by-laws state one option or the other. If not, it is up to each board to decide. It is also possible to conduct a vote electronically if the by-laws permit this. It is hard to determine an accurate percentage with a voice vote, so this is not the best option.
Who makes the motion for the vote to call the new minister?
Unless your by-laws specifically state otherwise, the motion should come from the chair of the search team.
If we have a successful vote, can we have a party with the minister and their family?
Yes, some congregations do this. Usually, a search team member votes early, then escorts the minister and their family to lunch. Upon hearing of a successful call, the search team member takes the minister and family back to the congregation. Some ministers may not want this, however, so planning ahead is important.
Why is our contact limited with the minister between the call vote and acceptance and their actual start date? We have planning meetings that require the minister.
Primarily, the congregation is not yet paying the minister to work. Second, there is a minister in place who is still the minister of the congregation. That relationship should be honored.
What if something happens during the candidating week, like a member dies?
The candidate and interim should talk about this in advance, though the candidate should be seen as the minister during that week, generally.
What if we got less than 90% of the vote? Do we start all over again?
Yes and no. No, because this is a new moment. You’re not starting where you were two years ago. And yes, in that we sometimes recommend forming a new search team of completely new members. It can mean the search team was more afraid of bringing no candidate than someone who was not a good match, or that they had disconnected from the congregation and lost touch with what the congregation needed.
If the search team intentionally did not bring forth a candidate, feeling no interested minister would serve them well, then they have in fact done their work and could stay together to search again in the cycle ahead.