When Ministers Are Hard to Find Strategies and Advice

a dead-end alley with brick walls and all sides

It can be very disappointing and disheartening when your congregation has been through a search process but could not find a match. But know that you are not alone! Your UUA Congregational Life Regional Staff, the UUA’s Transitions Team, (and sometimes other staff groups) are still your companions and thought partners.

Considering Student Ministers

(Ministerial Candidates in the UUA Fellowshipping Process)

In situations where a UUA Fellowshipped minister cannot be found, UUA staff will work with a congregation to see if there might be local student ministers who are interested and available. Because there is a strict system of accountability, congregations should not contact potential non-fellowshipped candidates. See the article below for more information.

Considering Non-UU Ministers

While congregational polity enables congregations to choose their own minister, there are crucial concerns that leaders should consider. We strongly recommend that you read Can We Hire a Non-UU Minister? for more detail.

  • The UUA Transitions Team will work with church leadership in their process and discernment work when considering non-UU ministers, upon request. We are unable to provide support for key parts of the search process, such as credentials or references.
  • For “federated” congregations which are affiliated with more than one denomination, and which would like to consider ministers from more than one denomination for an open position, contact the UUA Transitions Team for assistance to conduct a fair and transparent search.
  • If a search team wants to consider non-UU ministers alongside UU minister applicants, that fact must be disclosed on the UUA congregational search profile as part of the UUA’s fair and transparent process. This would be important data for prospective UU ministers in their discernment process

Sample Interview Questions for Non-UU Ministers

  • Why did you apply to our congregation? Look for responses related to your unique ministry.
  • With your background and personal theology, how would you sustain and shape the UU identity of a congregation?
  • What do you know about divisions in Unitarian Universalism in the last few years? How are you positioned in relation to these divisions?
  • Have you inquired about or moved toward receiving fellowship through transfer or plural status or with the UUA? How is that going? Or why not?
  • Have you worked in a UU congregation before? How did that go, from your perspective? With whom could we talk in that congregation to learn about your work there?
  • How are you in relationship with UU ministry colleagues? This matters because non-UU ministers who are successful in UU spaces have UU collegial support and relationships.
  • Can you connect us with denominational staff in your denomination of origin who can assure us that you have a good reputation in ministry and are not prohibited from serving congregations?
  • Our hiring agreement requires that ministers who serve with us abide by the UU Ministers Association Guidelines for the Conduct of Ministry (provide this link in advance of the interview). What are your thoughts on this?

Lean into Your Lay Ministry

As Unitarian Universalists, lay-led ministry is in our bones. While it may not be easy, your congregation’s leaders can maintain the missional focus of your ministry, cast a hopeful vision, sustain joy, create connections, and extend care without a professional ministry partner.

If your congregation finds itself in this situation, please be in touch with regional staff for support and resources.

Here are a few suggestions for boards as they plan ahead:

  • Check in with the staff and key volunteers who will carry additional work if you do not have a professional ministry partner when you hoped you would. Make sure they feel valued and ask how they are doing. What would help? Where is there strain? Where is there capacity or energy?
  • Look to your neighboring congregations. What what staff or volunteer could you share with them? For example, if you have a talented lay speaker and so do they, could the speakers exchange pulpits? Can your leaders in similar roles meet to support each other?
  • Find a larger congregation and (with permission) “attend” their services on Zoom or YouTube.
  • Read your regional newsletter. It contains ways to connect and skill up.
  • Be in touch with UUA regional staff for support and strategy.

Lay Ministry Resources