Starting in mid-January, the search team will be discerning which applicants will be invited to be their pre-candidates, both by interviewing the ministers and checking their initial references.

Once the list of applicants is received, reviewed, and additional materials exchanged, the search team is ready to start the initial screening, which will take about a week. A few more applications may be received during this window of time.

Unitarian Universalism is faith that welcomes people from all walks of life into community with their local congregation, community, and the wider Association. If you are part of a community that is interested in joining the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) we encourage you to contact us.

Finish and submit the congregational record by mid-November so that you can polish your search profile by the December 1st release date.

While your congregational profile is being viewed by potential applicants, there is a lull in the search team's work aside from these two important tasks.

The new Zoom Cares program offers a much better discount for congregations, which leads us to sunset the UUA Zoom Licenses program.

All of the work so far has led to this phase of the search team's work. The team is aware of the congregation's gifts and challenges, they've noticed historical patterns in the congregation’s life, and they understand that good ministry is shared.

After the release of interested applicants in January, the search team should send an acknowledgement, then start the screening and review process.

This is a turning point in the search process, finishing up the materials that potential ministers will see, waiting patiently through the winter holidays, then getting access to the ministerial records of potential candidates during the first two weeks of January.

Our guests this month, Simone Monique Barnes and Dana N. Moore, join QuianaDenae Perkins in a dialogue at the intersection of pastoral care, radical welcome, hospitality, and small group ministry.

The teams drafts a ministerial agreement and negotiates the agreement with the ministerial candidate after the candidate accepts the verbal offer.

The candidating week coordinator is the point person who manages the schedule and logistics during the week so it runs smoothly.

Designating a process observer for your search team meetings is a great way to assess and monitor how meeting time is being used and how team members are in relationship with one another.

Checking references making research calls—important parts of the search process—are usually done by members of a sub-team, coordinated by the references and research calls coordinator.

The role of hospitality coordinator can vary, depending on how travel arrangements are worked out between the candidate(s) and the search team.

Pre-candidating weekends are the opportunity for the search team to interact with and experience the ministry of the candidate to help answer the question "Could this minister be a good match for our congregation?"

The interview coordinator is the point person for the interviews of potential candidates, including scheduling logistics, script and structure.

The documents packet is a collection of supplementary materials. The documents will give applicant ministers concrete information from the congregation.

The search team uses the MinistrySearch system to present itself to potential applicant ministers. The coordinator makes sure it's completed properly.

The workshop helps the congregation understand about issues and bias around race, gender, disabilities/health concerns, and sexual orientation.