The Settlement Handbook
Our Association's settled ministry search process can seem long and complex. A lot happens between the announcement that a minister is leaving and the beginning of a new ministry! Year after year, we see that good process yields better ministry matches. We update our Settlement Handbook at least once a year with the best guidance we can offer based on all we learn from each search cycle.
Important links/forms for each phase of search are included on this page and in the Appendix of the PDF document.
- The Settlement Handbook (PDF)
- Changes from 2020-2021 to 2021-2022 Settlement Handbook Iterations (PDF)
Important Links
- Board Checklist for the Settled Search (PDF)
- UUMA Guidelines
- Second Ministry Search Handbook (Word)
- Transitions Support for Congregational Staff
- Visual Guide: Search Cycle Newsletter Sign Up for Minister (PDF)
Phase One: Concluding a Ministry Well
Phase Two: Education and Preparation for Search
- Finding a Compensation Consultant
- General Compensation Information
- Request Settled Ministry Search Support
- Ministerial Website Template
- Visual Guide: Initiating a Search & Logging into the Ministry Search System (PDF)
Phase Three: Building the Structure to Search
- Congregational Covenant (PDF)
- Ministerial Covenant (PDF)
- Congregational Survey (PDF)
- Beyond Categorical Thinking Program Information
- BCT Request Form (Word)
- Blank Congregational Record (PDF)
- Blank Ministerial Record (PDF)
- Visual Guide: Steps to Completing the Congregational Record (PDF)
- Visual Guide: Sharing Files Confidentially via Google Docs and Dropbox (PDF)
- Joint UUA/UUMA Recommended Ministerial Agreement for Solo/Senior Ministries (Word)
- Contract Change Form (Word)
- Compensation Worksheet (Excel)
- Sample Interview Questions for Search Committees and Ministers (xls)
- Government Reimbursement Rates for Mileage
- Clergy Moving Resource from Maj-Britt Johnson
- Congregational Online Voting Resource
- Theme-Based Candidating Week Model (PDF)
- A Guide to Process Observation (from UU Regional Lead Rev. Dr. Ian Evison) (PDF)
- Geo Index Listing 2021-2022 (PDF)
Phase Four: Opening Up for the Search
Phase Five: Discernment and Mutual Selection
Phase Six: Finalizing the Offer
- Responsible Staffing
- Oxford Document Management Company (background checks)
- Church Mutual Insurance Company (background checks)