Ministry Search Types

A brief and helpful overview of different types of UU Ministry to meet your needs.

Ministry Search Types

Along with the robust year-long process for searching for and calling a settled minister (which is covenantal, long-term, open-ended relationship), the UUA Transitions Office also supports searches for various types of transitional ministries.

See Ministry Search Types to learn more about the five different kinds of ministry searches.

Transitional ministries:

1. have a search process with a short time-line
2. are hired by, and are accountable to, the governing board of the congregation
3. are under a mutually-agreed-upon contract with a specific term

The four different kinds of transitional ministry meet different congregational needs:

• Interim ministry is a tried-and-true way to help a congregation transition between settled or developmental ministries. It is typically a 24 month term, giving the congregation enough discernment time for their next ministry.
• Developmental ministry is an option for congregations with a recurrent short ministries,
  chronic conflict, or needing other systemic internal work before calling their next minister.
• Contract ministry is an option for under-resourced (in energy and/or money) congregations, those who could not find a match in the settled search process, and for part-time searches.
• Short-term ministry is for situations outside of either settled or transitional ministries such as sabbatical coverage.

Read more about each kind of transitional ministry below.