Offer and Background Checks for Interim Ministers

Part of A Guide to Transitional Ministry

An offer to a minister is contingent on a successful background check as well as coming to agreement on the specific compensation (salary+housing) for the offer being made.

Background Checks

Completing a successful background check of the minister is one of the first priorities after extending an offer. See Background Checks for a current list of companies the UUA has worked with.

Finalizing Compensation

Shaking Hands

Before finalizing the Ministerial Agreement (based on the draft agreement in your search materials), the congregation and minister should be settled on the amount of compensation (salary+housing).

  • Review the instructions in the Congregational Salary Program to find the salary range appropriate to your congregation’s size and geographic location.
  • If you discover that your previous minister or your current staff is being compensated below the guidelines, outline a plan to move staff into the recommended ranges. Contact UUA compensation staff congstaffing@uua.org or regional staff for guidance and strategies.
  • If you run into complications, reach out to the UUA Transitions Team or Regional Staff for guidance. (The minister has access to collegial UUMA good officers if they need guidance.)
  • Plan to compensate your interim at least at the midpoint of the salary range. Highly-skilled interims expect to be compensated accordingly, well-above the midpoint.