Interim 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.

Colorful graphic showing tasks in a stack list: contact the UUA, a good ending, exit interviews, types of ministry, plan for search, a good beginning

Congregations in Transition

An overview and guide to ending the current ministry well, discerning the next kind of ministry needed, planning and supporting the search process, then a good beginning of the next ministry.

Congregations in Transition

Your governing board should examine your congregation’s bylaws to see how ministry search is presented to ensure a smooth interim 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 Interim Ministry Search Calendar

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

Developmental Ministry Search Calendar for 2026

From LeaderLab

These are the important dates and milestones for developmental ministry searches, for ministers, search committees, and governing boards.

Developmental Calendar

Select the Interim Ministry Search Committee

This interim 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.
  • Members can engage in a fast-moving process that plays out in early May.

Staff members are not eligible to serve on search teams.

Congregations that have a July-June fiscal year—and a tight budget—may not have a full financial picture when the interim search team begins its work.

The UUA can initiate an interim profile for your congregation, at your request, even if your congregational leadership hasn’t yet determined if full-time ministry is affordable and sustainable.

If it becomes clear that full-time interim ministry won’t work out, the Transitions Office can transfer your interim congregational search profile responses
to a contract search profile (part-time or full-time).

Determine the Duration of Interim Ministry

The UUA recommends 24-month interim ministry period, which has the following advantages over a 12-month interim:

  • The data is compelling: 2-year interims have had a 90% success rate at calling a minister following their interim, where 1-year interims had only 56%
  • Waiting until the interim minister arrives in the fall gives the congregation time to process emotions before electing its Settled ministry search team.
  • Search teams need a full year to do their work well. Search teams selected after an interim minister has arrived tend to be able to look forward and are more likely to see future needs.
  • Congregations planning for two years of interim ministry should do so with a contract for one year which may be renewed for the second year. Doing so allows for the possibility of a graceful exit if the interim and congregation do not match well. Additionally, some congregations are simply better served by two different interims.
  • The UUA Transition Team may approve the extension of an interim ministry to a third year at the mutual request of the congregation and the interim minister.

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.

Note: Plan to compensate your interim at least at the midpoint of the salary range. Highly-skilled interims expect to be compensated accordingly, well-above the midpoint.