With contract ministry, the minister is hired by the governing board rather than called by the congregation. Because of our congregation polity, where a called minister is in a mutual, covenantal relationship with the congregation as a whole, any contract ministry is considered to be “transitional” in contrast to “settled” ministry.

The contract ministry search process is simply a flexible and accessible path to ministry partnership, which is relational, mutual, and covenantal. Most contract ministries are indistinguishable in scope and quality from other types of ministries.

A Quick Overview of Contract Ministry

• The congregation and minister make agreements for ministerial service with a term-limited, potentially renewable contract.
• The contract ministry search process is nimble and flexible:
  • there is a smaller search committee with a shorter time commitment
  • there are minimal search-related costs compared to a settled search
  • there is a “prime time” search option that follows the traditional search cycle and offers similar exposure of the position to potential applicants, but a contract search can be conducted any time during the rest of the year
  • primetime searches begin in December with a late March offer date, and are timed with the settled search calendar, so the search team will have a larger pooler of applicants
  • contract ministers (even if they are part-time) who are needed to do some interim or developmental tasks, have access to UUA support and training
  • settled, interim, or developmental searches can be convert to contract searches when the need arises
• Contract ministers (who are not hired as interim or developmental ministers) are eligible to be called. See the Contract-to-Call process.
• Congregations with fewer than 125 members and those with part-time ministry positions use a contract ministry search, though any size congregation can do so. They can indicated in their search materials that they are interested in a contract-to-call situation.
• Second ministry positions (i.e. assistant ministers) are usually contract positions.
• Some form of contract ministry is usually available to most congregations in search as an option search process because of its flexibility and simplicity.
• If a congregation does not find a match in another type of ministry search, they may shift to a contract search.

Search Support for Contract Ministry

Congregations which support the UUA’s Annual Program Fund (APF) at the Honor level will be able to use the
MinistrySearch system without an additional charge. We acknowledge with gratitude that their faithful support funds our work fully and fairly already.

Congregations in search in the 2026 contract search cycle and beyond which do NOT support the APF at the Honor level, will pay a one-time $500 fee for search support and system use.

Once the Contract Ministry Begins

Upon request, a new ministry start-up may be available to the congregation and minister. Regional staff lead programming to help the minister and congregation begin to get to know each other and align hopes and expectations for the partnership ahead. Ministers and board presidents may be in touch with regional staff once the ministry partnership begins to determine whether a start-up would be beneficial.

Contract Ministry Evaluation

This form may be submitted electronically.