Developmental Calendar
Part of A Guide to Transitional Ministry
These are the important dates and milestones for developmental ministry searches, for ministers, search committees, and governing boards.
Developmental Ministry Search
| Dates | Task | Whose Is This? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| <6 months from the end of the current ministry | Congregation submits Notice of Ministerial Transition | Board | |
| Fall | UUA Regional Staff and the Congregational Transitions Director cpurcell@uua.org both must approve the congregation for a Developmental Ministry search. Board reviews and follows guidance in Guide to Developmental Ministry | Board | |
| 02 December, 2025 - 31 January, 2026 | UUA publishes search profile | Search team and UUA | Transitions team, current minister and regional staff provide feedback on profile before publication |
| 02 March, 2026 | Deadline for interested applicants to submit their ministerial record via MinistrySearch | Ministers | |
| 06 March, 2026 | UUA Transitions Team begins to release applicant names and search material to the search team | UUA Transitions Team | The UUA Transitions Team will release names of applicants every weekday after 02 January |
| 06 March - 22 March | Search team reviews applicants’ materials, shares link to documents packet with all applicants, receives references from applicants, conducts research calls on top applicants with UUA staff. Video interviews of applicants | Search team/applicants | Search team reviews applicant records and shares documents packets with applicants. Team asks applicants for references (of applicants’ choosing) |
| Monday, 23 March | Ministers submit ranked yes/maybe/no list to Transitions Team | Ministers | Minister’s ranking of congregations |
| Monday, 23 March | Search teams submit ranked yes/maybe/no list to Transitions Team | Search team | Search team’s ranking of ministers |
| Tuesday, 24 March | UUA Transitions Team distills matches | UUA Transitions Team | UUA Transitions Team will verify everything but mutual #1 matches (ties, second choices) |
| Wednesday, 25 March | UUA Transitions Team confirms matches | UUA Transitions Team | UUA Transitions Team contacts both search teams and ministers |
| Thursday, 26 March | Offers can be made and accepted | Search team/ministers | Noon Eastern/11 am Central/ 10 am Mountain/9 am Pacific |
| after 26 March | contract negotiations, criminal background check, announcement to congregation | Board and minister | Note: The newly hired minister will need to announce their departure to their current congregation before their hire can be announced |