Ending a Ministry Well

Purple and magenta theater curtains pulled closed.

The most important and underrated act of ministry is leaving well.

Congregations and ministers that take the time to conclude a ministry well, and to express gratitude and good wishes, set a positive tone for the next ministry partnership.

Ministry is built on relationship and trust. It takes years of cooperation, shared experiences, and shared ministry for the minister to be seen by the congregation as their minister.

Congregations and ministers that take the time to conclude a ministry with the same spirit of relationship and trust, and who express gratitude and good wishes along with grief, set themselves up well for similar trust-building in their next ministry partnership.

Planning the Departure Announcement

The process of ending a typical ministry begins as soon as the minister shares that they plan to leave or retire. A typical sequence of process might be:

  • The minister confers with UUA regional staff about timing of the public announcement date and any other concerns.
  • About a week or two before the announcement, the minister usually has a one-on-one confidential conversation with the board president or moderator about the departure. They may suggest the president talk to UUA regional staff for some tips/coaching, so the president knows the person who can companion them through the upcoming months of transition.
  • The minister tells the staff in a confidential conversation.

Endings that involve harsh words and/or bad boundaries damage both congregation and minister. Elicited bad feelings at the end can tarnish otherwise good ministries and create problems for future ministries.

  • The minister shares the news with the full board, so they are ready to support and respond to the congregation’s reactions.
  • The announcement goes out to the congregation’s mailing list, and repeated a few days later at the Sunday Service.

Preparing for Emotional Dynamics

Leaders can plan for the variety of emotions as people process the news. People will need time to adjust or grieve before planning what happens next. Some folks will need more time than others. See the Emotional Dynamics of Change to learn more, then connect with your UUA Regional Staff for guidance.

Troubled Departures

Different kinds of departures may need special care, especially after conflict or misconduct. See Dynamics of Departures for more detail.

Departures of Non-Minister Staff

Wood door with a brass doorknow slightly ajar.

Staff Departures

From LeaderLab

On top of managing the “logistics” of a staff member’s departure, you will need to manage the emotional component. Congregants may have a whole range of feelings and reactions. It’s important to acknowledge all feelings.

Staff Departures