Offer, Negotiations, and Background Checks for Contract Ministers

Part of A Guide to Transitional Ministry

When you make an offer to a contract minister, it is contingent on a successful background check as well as coming to agreement on the specific compensation (salary+housing) for the offer being made.

Any announcements about the new minister should wait until

  • the background check is complete
  • the contract is signed by both minister and the congregational authority
CGI human with large magnifying glass looking at notebooks

Background Checks

Completing a successful background check of the minister is one of the first priorities after extending an offer.

While you can use any company you wish to complete a background check, the UUA has partnerships with:

Negotiating the Final Contract

The congregation appoints a negotiating team, usually comprised of a search team member (selected by the search team), a board member, and one other person selected by the board. The negotiating team must hold the same confidentiality as the search team.

Hand holding a pen, poised to sign a document on its signature line

Starting with the Draft Unified Ministerial Agreement posted in MinistrySearch, any major sticking points should be resolved. Then the negotiating team and candidate can go through the agreement in granular detail, so that all parties are in agreement. This can take anywhere from an hour or two, to a couple of weeks.

  • relocation costs should be discussed (as of 2018 this is now taxable income, and congregations are advised to account for the extra tax in their offer) as well as all pieces of compensation
  • give plenty of time for discussion for any areas needing negotiation. Listen well to one another, and move forward toward a mutual resolution of the agreement and compensation.
  • The Church Staff Finances team csf@uua.org can be a valuable resource for specific questions.

When the Minister Commutes from a Long Distance

Some part-time contract ministries are filled by ministers who commute from some distance. In these cases, the minister and congregation should work together to create a reasonable schedule for when the minister is in the area and considerations for lodging as needed. (Lodging with a congregant is not an option.)