Short-Term Ministry Process Overview

Part of A Guide to Transitional Ministry

Stylized graphic with "Short-Term Ministry"

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.

Select the Short-Term Ministry Search Committee

This contract search team is usually a task force of the board. If this is a short-term ministry with a senior minister who will supervise the short-term minister, the minister will likely be on the hiring team.

  • 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.

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?

Initiate the Contract Search Profile

Once the search team is in place, the board president should initiate the contract search profile in the MinistrySearch System, the on-line portal where searching ministers and congregations connect. Contact transitions@uua.org.

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.