Ministers' Search Guide for Settled and Contract Ministries

November 13, 2025

MinistrySearch Website

Manage your ministerial record, review posted congregational records, and indicate interest in an open search.

The UUA’s ministry search process is open to UU ministers in Fellowship (in good standing) with the UUA.

All ministers in search are required to follow the professional guidelines of the UU Ministers Association.

Using the MinistrySearch System

As you prepare for search, you will create or update your ministerial record (MR, also known as a search profile) in the MinistrySearch system. You will submit that record to ministry search teams after reading their search profiles and indicating your interest.

Please click on the “Stay informed” button in your ministerial record to receive updates on kinds of search in each search cycle. You may also sign up for the UUA Transitions Team newsletter to receive general search updates.

Tips and Tools for Search

Below you will find information and advice that can help ministers navigate the search process.

See Ministers in Transition for some questions for discernment during a transition.

Timing

Settled and “prime time” contract searches—which comprise the vast majority of congregations and ministers in search—follow the same calendar, with ministers applying in January. Ministers in search are encouraged to look at both contract and settled positions. Smaller congregations (>125) with full-time positions are limited to contract searches, but can consider a contract-to-call process after a couple of years of shared ministry.

Developmental and Interim searches start later and have a more compressed discernment timeline.

A Gantt chart showing an overview of the search calendars for Settled, Contract, Developmental, and Interim Searches

Transitional Ministry Search Guides

Transitional ministry search guides are found in their corresponding sections in the Guide to Transitional Ministry.

Settled Minister Search Guide
From LeaderLab

Ministers interested in settled ministry positions will be interacting with a search team who has spend the better part of a year synthesizing the congregation’s hopes into their congregational record.
Contract Minister Search Guide
From LeaderLab

This Contract Minister Search Guide provides the process and recommendations for ministers interested in full-time or part-time contract ministry positions, and are not designated as either short-term, interim, or developmental ministries.
Ministerial Search Profile Questions
From LeaderLab

A quick reference listing the information and questions that are part of the ministerial record in the UUA’s MinistrySearch system.
Preparing Your Ministerial Website or "Search Packet"
From LeaderLab

Ministry is relationship. Offering search committees a way to get to know you and experience your ministry will help set you up for a good match.
Search Considerations for Ministers
From LeaderLab

Things to consider as you begin to work on your search profile and discern your potential match with the congregations in search.
Eligibility for Search and Inside Candidates
From LeaderLab

The MinistrySearch system is open to UU ministers in Fellowship (and in good standing) with the UUA. All ministers are encouraged to be members of the UUMA, but must follow the ethical guidelines of the UUMA whether they are a member or not.
Review of Your Ministerial Record and Congregations' Search Profiles
From LeaderLab

Ask a trusted colleague or two to review your record and make sure its ready on January 2. In December review congregational profiles and express interest.
Final Discernment and Offer Day
From LeaderLab

The protocols for the ranking and matching processes, though imperfect, are in service of fairness and reduced anxiety for both ministers and congregations.