The draft ministerial agreement communicates important details about the ministry position, because it clearly communicates the expectations of the minister, and what the congregation would be offering, if there is a match.

The search committee doesn’t necessarily prepare the draft agreement. But because this is a fiduciary responsibility, the draft agreement must be approved by your governing board.

How to Prepare the Draft Ministerial Agreement

• Start with making a copy of the Unified Ministerial Agreement Template
• Delete the sections that do not pertain to your type of ministry position (e.g. percentage of time, contract vs. called). Once you have curated the template, turn on the “suggesting” mode if using Google Docs, or some other “track changes” feature. This enables potential candidates to see any deviations from the template that pertains to the type of position being offered.
• The board determines the minimum salary & housing they expect to pay for the position.
• The board determines the benefits, compensation, and aid funds that will be offered. (Please note: Some benefits are required.)
  UUA compensation guidance is available to help the board navigate decisions about compensation and benefits, as well: comp@uua.org
• Make sure the sharing settings for the final document are set to “view only” for prospective candidates.