When a congregation is searching for a contract or other transitional minister (to be hired by the governing board, rather than called by the congregation), sometimes ministers known to the congregation express interest in the open position. Such applicants require special and intentional consideration before opening the search to external candidates, in fairness to all parties.The Ministerial Fellowship Committee rules and UUA Transitions Team policy both require that the congregation us an inside candidate process in the following situation(s):

• The contract or transitional position is full-time
  AND
• The applicant minister is a member of the congregation
  OR
• The applicant minister is already a staff member, perhaps in a second minister role
  OR
• The applicant minister is an affiliated community minister of the congregation
  OR
• The applicant minister has visited the congregation in a professional capacity (i.e. preaching, teaching, pastoral care) since the announcement of the departure of the most recent settled minister, without a waiver to apply in the regular search process.

A search process that includes consideration of an inside candidate has a few modifications early in the process, but otherwise remains intact.

Timing of Inside Candidate Consideration

In a search process that includes the consideration of inside candidates, they must apply and be considered before the search is opened to external candidates.

• The board first appoints the search team .
• Inside candidates must express interest to the search team and the UUA Transitions Team early in the process. If a congregation has more than one inside candidate, the search team should contact the UUA Transitions Team for guidance on how to proceed.
• When an inside candidate signals interest in a position, the search team makes the decision as to whether—or not— they will consider the inside candidate.
• If the search team declines to consider an inside candidate, the regular search process resumes

Process for Inside Candidate Consideration

• If the search team is willing to consider an inside candidate, they prepare their congregational record and the other documents in the MinistrySearch system so that the UUA Transitions Team can share the materials with the inside candidate. (The record will not yet be published for potential external applicant review until the inside candidate process is concluded.)
• The search team requests the ministerial record of their inside candidate from the UUA Transitions Team.
• The search team evaluates the inside candidate, then decides whether to hire the inside candidate or recommend a hire to the board, in alignment with the board’s charge to the search team.
• If the decision is made to hire the inside candidate, the ministerial agreement (contract) is negotiated.
• If the inside candidate is not hired, the congregational record may be published for potential external applicant review. The remainder of the search process from this point aligns with the process described in the relevant section of this handbook (interim, developmental, contract).