Becoming an Accredited Interim Minister

Becoming an Accredited Interim Minister requires:

• One year as an interim minister before applying
• An application and acceptance as an Accredited Interim Minister in Training (AIMIT).

Once an AIMIT completes the requirements, they may then apply for acceptance as an Accredited Interim Minister (AIM).

This section provides information for the AIMIT and AIM applications.

Requirements for Admission

To be considered for the status of Accredited Interim Minister in Training (AIMIT), a minister must:

• Be in full fellowship with the UUA (however, ministers in preliminary fellowship may be admitted on a case-by-case basis).
• Demonstrate competence in worship, preaching, counseling, working with volunteers, and church administration.
• Demonstrate a proven willingness to seek, illuminate, and create opportunities for the full integration of people with historically and currently marginalized identities into all aspects of congregational life, and to dismantle white supremacist culture.
• Have completed the Interim Ministry Network’s Year-Long Transitions Ministry Training (YLTMT), offered each year by the Transitions Office.
• Have served effectively as an interim minister for at least one full current year.
• Exhibit appropriate personal qualities:
  • self-differentiation: personal security, emotional stability, flexibility
  • resilience and resourcefulness
  • comfort with beginnings and endings
  • the ability to listen attentively and to ask searching questions
  • patience, empathy, understanding
  • hopefulness: a positive approach to life
  • physical vitality
  • entrepreneurial energy on behalf of congregations
  • a domestic situation conducive to frequent relocation.
• Make required professional commitments.
• Retain an AIM as a mentor, and to engage in regular conversation about interim ministry with the mentor at least monthly.

Instructions to Apply for AIMIT Status

• Apply no later than February 1.
• Application are evaluated by the UUMA Transition Ministry Chapter Executive and the UUA Transitions Team.
• If your application is accepted, you must attend the UUMA Transition Ministry “Transitional Ministry Seminar” held in April, after which a final determination will be made whether you are granted AIMIT status.
• You will be notified of the decision by email from the UUA Transitions team following the Seminar.

AIMIT Application Packet

Along with the electronic application, please submit the following materials as a “packet,” as email attachments. If the files exceed the capacity of your email provider, please use an FTP service (e.g. WeTransfer), or send us a link to a shared Google Drive or Dropbox folder with your materials.

• Name of congregation you are currently serving as an interim minister (and have completed one year).
• The name of a regional staff person with whom you have worked.
• A letter from your mentor evaluating your potential for interim ministry.
• Copies of at least one year of interim appraisals from you and the congregation. If you have served more than one year as interim, please include up to three years of appraisals. Contact the UUA Transitions Team for assistance.
• A PDF copy of your up-to-date Ministerial Record from the UUA MinistrySearch system.
• A link to your website or an electronic version of your ministerial search packet
• A copy of your certificate of completion of the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Congregation (FTMC) including fieldwork (either through the UUA-sponsored Year-long Transitions Ministry Training/New to Transitions Ministry Training, OR the Interim Ministry Network’s class).

Instructions to Apply for AIM Status

• Apply no later than February 1.
• Application are evaluated by the UUA Transitions Team, and discussed between the Transitions Office, your mentor, and another AIM chosen by your mentor.
• You will be notified of the decision by email from the UUA Transitions team by March 15.

AIM Application Packet

Along with the electronic application, please submit the following materials as a “packet,” as email attachments. If the files exceed the capacity of your email provider, please use an FTP service (e.g. WeTransfer), or send us a link to a shared Google Drive or Dropbox folder with your materials.

• A letter from your regional staff person you have worked with, evaluating your experience as an interim minister.
• Copies of interim appraisals from you and the congregation for the most recent three years of interim. Contact the UUA Transitions Team for assistance.
• A PDF copy of your up-to-date Ministerial Record from the UUA MinistrySearch system.
• A link to your website or an electronic version of your ministerial search packet
• A copy of your certificate of completion of the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Congregation (FTMC) including fieldwork (either through the UUA-sponsored Year-long Transitions Ministry Training/New to Transitions Ministry Training, OR the Interim Ministry Network’s class).