Part of Retiring from the UU Ministry
A beloved retired minister—especially one who remains living in the vicinity of the congregation that they served—faces the challenge of holding good boundaries so that the congregation can thrive going forward. Planning, intentionality, and good communication will help all parties in the transition.
Themes to keep in mind during this transition are:
- Have a plan (or seek coaching) about what shape your life will take after retirement
- End well, so that the subsequent ministries can thrive.
- If you remain in the vicinity, give the new minister time (usually 2 years) and space to establish their relationship with the congregation, and be crystal-clear with former congregants that you are no longer their minister.
- If family members have friendships in the church, encourage them to hold appropriate boundaries.
- Establish a formal (i.e. public) and covenantal relationship with the new minister(s).
- If you remain a member, be intentional about when and how you become involved, and do so in conversation with the new minister.
- If there is interest by the congregation in conferring emerit/us/a status, let them do so on their own time table and process.
Primary Resource Documents for Retiring Ministers
The Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA), in cooperation with the UU Retired Ministers and Partners Association (UURMaPA), have developed guidelines and other guiding documents that go into detail:
- Read the UUMA Guidelines Standards of Professional Practice, Article 3, Section G. Departing Ministers
- On Retirement: A Guide for UU Ministers and Partners (pdf)
- UUMA Task Force on Retired Ministers (pdf) Recommendations & resources for best practices in right relations among settled, interim & retired ministers & their families.
- Sample Covenant between Settled and Retired Minister (pdf)
More on Good Boundaries
Expectations and Boundaries for Departing Ministers
Leaving well is a time for reflecting on the ministry’s accomplishments and lessons, and reassuring the congregation as they will move to a new future.