Eligibility for Search and Inside Candidates

Part of Process and Considerations for Ministers in Search

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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 UU Ministers Association (UUMA). All ministers in search must follow the UUMA Guidelines whether they are a member or not.

Non-fellowshipped ministers are not allowed to access the system. Congregations are discouraged from hiring any minister who is not applying though the MinistrySearch system.

Here are some considerations and processes for different situations:

Transfer Candidates

Transfer candidates from other denominations should contact the UUA’s Credentialing Office to learn about the process of becoming credentialed as a Unitarian Universalist minister. The Credentialing Office tries to make this as easy as possible, yet the process generally takes two years. Contact mco@uua.org.

Ministerial Candidates

Ministerial candidates who have a scheduled Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) appointment may access the MinistrySearch system to begin a ministerial record. Candidates may not apply for any position prior to being cleared for search by the MFC.

The Ministerial Credentialing Director, in consultation with the UUA Transitions Team, can approve specific requests of candidates for contract ministries only of no more than one year. Students and Ministerial Candidates who have not seen the MFC must obtain permission from the Credentialing Director for permission before reaching out to the UUA Transitions Team about potential positions they could serve.

Ministers Under Review or Restriction

Ministers facing a review process or who are on hold or under settlement restrictions must comply with process. They can only apply for positions which their restrictions allow.

Three Year Rule

This Ministerial Fellowship Committee rule applies to intern and student ministers, interim ministers, and other professional staff in a congregation.

Per Ministerial Fellowship Committee rules, a minister is not eligible for employment in a ministerial capacity in a congregation for at least three years following previous engagement as an intern or interim minister in that congregation. Waivers may be granted by application to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee mco@uua.org.

Inside Candidate and Professional Engagement Rule

  • • Per Ministerial Fellowship Committee rules, any minister who has visited a congregation in a professional capacity after the most recent settled minister has announced their departure to the congregation, or who is either employed by or a member of a congregation seeking to fill another ministerial position on staff may only apply for such a position as an inside candidate (see process below) to be considered before the UUA Transitions Team has submitted a list of potential candidates to that congregation.
  • Per UUA Transitions Team policy, to promote fairness to inside candidates and potential external applicants, a decision about the candidacy of the inside candidate must be made before the search is opened to potential external applicants. This policy applies only to full-time positions. 

Inside Candidate Process for a Contract Ministry (Board Hire)

Per Ministerial Fellowship Committee rules and UUA Transitions Team policy, certain ministers are only eligible to be hired by a congregation through a full-time transitional ministry search process as an inside candidate:

  • a minister who is a member or staff member of a congregation seeking a transitional minister (this could be a contract minister who is serving year-to-year or a second minister)
  • an affiliated community minister
  • a minister who has visited the congregation in a professional capacity since the departure of the most recent settled minister was announced.