The Call Process and Task Force

Part of The Contract to Call Process for Ministry

Close-up Photo of Survey Spreadsheet with a hand making notes with a bright blue pen.

After completing two years of ministry, and there has been a generally positive ministry assessment, and some discernment among the governing board about the future of shared ministry, it may approach the minister about a possible call. If the minister is also positive about the future of shared ministry, board leaders should contact the Congregational Transitions Director, and/or the congregation’s primary contact on the regional UUA staff team for assistance in planning a call process.

Appointing the Task Force Members

The congregation’s governing board appoints a special call process task force to coordinate the discernment and decision-making process.

Charge for the Task Force

The board should provide the call process task force with a clear charge outlining their role and responsibilities:

  • Use this guide
  • Get feedback from the congregation about their hopes and dreams for the future of shared ministry in general
  • Get feedback from the congregation about what qualities of ministerial leadership does the congregation need for that vision of shared ministry
  • Get feedback about with how well the contract minister meets those qualities
  • Synthesize the feedback into a summary report
  • Share the summary report with the governing board and the minister
  • Hold appropriate confidentiality and privacy of the feedback participants

Task Force Composition

Rather than assign this function to an existing committee, convening a fresh, unbiased, and diverse team will earn the broad-based confidence of the congregation.

  • appoint five to seven people who are voting members of the congregation
  • Include a diversity of interests, age, gender, cultural identity, and tenure in membership
  • connect them with regional UUA staff and this section of the UUA website

Whole-Congregation Engagement Strategies for the Call Process

The Call Sermon

Early in the call process, designate a Sunday service to be the kick-off of the contract to call process. Invite a task force member or a paid guest speaker to deliver a sermon or homily, and introduce (and commission or “charge” if that is your liturgical practice) the task force members. Here are some possible sermon/homily speakers and/or topics:

  • a lay leader from a nearby congregation who recently went through the contract to call process shares their story
  • a guest minister speaks to the depth of a settled ministry relationship
  • The history of congregational polity and the roles and relationships of minister, elders, and other lay leaders

Ongoing Communication Strategies

Keep the communications between the call process task force, the board, the minister, and the congregation as fluid and open as possible.

Educating the congregation about the process and keeping the minister and board up to date on the process are vital to a successful transition from contract ministry to settled ministry. It is important to keep all stakeholders thoroughly informed and invited into the process in as many ways as possible:

If issues arise with deliberations of the call process task force that cannot be resolved, contact regional staff, the Congregational Transitions Director, or others on the UUA Transitions Team for assistance. 

  • articles in the church newsletter
  • meetings (large and small)
  • Flyers
  • visual displays on bulletin boards
  • worship service announcements

Small Group Meetings

Small group meetings are an essential element of the decision process to discuss the ministerial role and choice of the minister. See the Small Group Meetings Section for more information.