Contract Search Process Overview

Part of A Guide to Transitional Ministry

Prepare for the Transition

See the Congregations in Transition page for information about who to contact, how to end well, prepare for the UUA’s exit interviews.

Your governing board should examine your congregation’s bylaws to see how ministry search is presented to ensure a smooth contract search process. If the board perceives a misalignment between the requirements of the bylaws and UUA process (if the congregation must vote on a transitional ministry, for example), please reach out to the Congregational Transitions Director as soon as possible.

Review the Contract Ministry Search Calendar

Close-up of a monthly calendar with large date numnbers.

Contract Ministry Search Calendars for 2026For Both “Prime Time” and Open Searches

From LeaderLab

Important dates and milestones for contract ministry searches (both “prime time” and open), for ministers, search committees, and governing boards.

Contract Calendar

Select the Contract Ministry Search Committee

This contract search team is usually a task force of the board.

  • 3-5 members who are trusted by the full board. The team may include board members.
  • Search team members should understand the congregation’s ministry needs and context, are trusted in the congregation, work well with others, and do not have a personal or controlling agenda.
  • Search team members need to be available during the search calendar, from January through May.
  • Staff members are not eligible to serve on search teams.

Clarify the Search Committee’s Role with a Charge

The board should determine and let the search team know which responsibilities lie with the board and with the
search team. For example:

  • Will the board review the congregation’s search profile before publication?
  • Who makes the verbal offer to the top choice applicant, the board or the search team?
  • If the search team cannot make the final decision on the candidate, what will the board need in order to consider the candidate identified by the search team?

Congregational Listening

business vision

Even though formal surveys and focus groups are not required for a contract ministry search, leadership should spend some time listening to the needs and hopes of the congregation before a contract search, especially if trust is an issue in the congregation or if the congregation hopes to find a contract minister who could be a good match for a later call. The Congregational Transitions Director can provide coaching on strategies for finding a good match and a congregational assessment template which could be adapted for a contract ministry search.

Small group meetings where some questions like the following are explored will increase trust, buy-in, and momentum for the search process:

  • Why did you come to our congregation?
  • Why do you stay?
  • In the last ministry, I wish our congregation had more _______
  • In the last ministry, I wish our congregation had less _______
  • What do you hope never changes in our congregation?
  • What do you think could be improved with fresh perspective and energy?

If leaders want to discuss what they learn from such conversations, they should feel free to contact regional staff. Questions like these provide valuable guidance to the search team as it presents the congregation to potential applicants and discerns the best choice of the ministers who apply for the position.

Prepare the Materials Supporting the Search

The search team needs to have the following materials ready for the Congregational Record that will be posted in MinistrySearch, some of which need board approval. Other leaders can help gather various materials for the search.