Confidentiality is essential in the search process. Search teams are entrusted to hold the names of all applicants confidential; from the congregation, from the staff, and from the other lay leaders.

A breach of confidentiality is a breach in trust, which is the foundation of the relationship between a congregation and its minister. 

Confidentiality and Other Ministers

The interim minister, any other ministers on staff, affiliated community ministers, retired ministers in the congregation, and any ministers emerit* are bound by UU Ministers Association Guidelines in the search process around collegiality and confidentiality. They often serve as references on the congregation for potential ministers, though they are to keep these conversations in confidence. No minister on staff or in the congregation should be asked to serve as a broker to prospective ministers but instead should encourage searching ministers to apply through the MinistrySearch system.

Confidentiality with References and UUA Regional Staff

Later in the search process, the search team will be reaching out to references and doing research calls.UUA Regional Staff, whether or not they are ministers, are also bound to hold confidentiality around your search process.