Congregations facing the departure of a minister should focus on ending the ministry well, which includes:

• honoring the contract terms
• expressing gratitude for the ministry
• reflecting on the accomplishments of the ministry
• have an ending celebration

Exit Interview

Congregational leaders will engage in an exit interview from the region as part of the process (automatically offered for settled ministries, and upon request for other types of ministries). The interview is an opportunity to reflect and move toward a new time in the congregation’s life, and benefits from good participation among the leaders.

Ending Well While Planning for What’s Next

Congregations face the complicated task of allowing the current ministry to conclude while, at the same time, preparing for the next ministry. The minister who is leaving is still the congregation’s minister until the last day of the contract.

• Congregational leadership should partner with the current minister to find appropriate ways to be in relationship once the next minister is hired.
• Congregational leadership should work with the current minister to define appropriate expectations and relationships once the current minister departs.

Ending Well When the Ending Is Complicated

After troubled endings (unresolved conflict, misconduct, negotiated resignation, dismissal, etc.), congregational leadership should exercise diligence in cocreating as good an ending as possible. By modeling covenantal behaviors such as civility, good manners, and fairness, they encourage these same qualities in members.

Leaders, who may need to keep some aspects of the departure appropriately confidential, will be able to tell their stories, on the record, in the exit interview.

See Holding Good Boundaries in Negotiated or Conflicted Ministry Endings for more detail.

Disruptive Behaviors

Leadership may need to address behaviors that are out of covenant, including:

• antagonism toward leadership or championing the minister
• “intense truth-telling”
• telling leadership what to do in a condescending or contemptuous manner
• bullying the departing minister

Contact your Regional Staff immediately if these or similar dynamics appear.

Beloved or Long-Time Ministries

When letting go will be difficult, as it can be after long-time ministries, or after a minister who was especially beloved, creating space for grieving along with celebrating is important.

It will also be important to also start managing expectations for the next ministry. Each ministry is unique because of the unique natures of both minister and the composition of the congregation’s membership.

Be ready for different people to be in different places in their emotional processing, while repeating a message of “Don’t be afraid of some change” (from the hymn Enter, Rejoice and Come In). See the Emotional Dynamics of Change to learn more, then connect with your UUA Regional Staff for guidance.