The congregational record (also called a CR, search profile, or application) is in the MinistrySearch system. It is the search team’s opportunity to present itself to potential applicant ministers. All search team members have access to the content and questions of the congregational record, and multiple people may work on the record simultaneously. All search team members should have input into the final congregational record before it is submitted to for review and approval for publication.
Role of the Search Profile Coordinator
The role of the coordinator is to direct and remind team members to complete certain sections, seek out missing information, and/or conduct a final editing pass once the profile is complete. They should not be the sole responder to each question.
How to Use MinistrySearch
MinistrySearch: Creating Your Congregational RecordSearch Profile Instructions for Congregations in Search
Creating a congregational record is a key part of any ministerial search process, whether transitional or settled.
Tips and Notes for Settled Searches
- A search teams sets up the future ministry for success by honestly describing the congregation,
not by presenting a snapshot of the congregation only at its best. - Familiarize yourselves with all the questions in the congregational record early, especially before creating the survey for the congregational assessment or the question lists for small group meetings.
- The congregational record is long! You will want to give yourselves plenty of time to complete it. The average length of a completed settled ministry search congregational record is 45-55 pages (when viewed using the print/preview option in the MinistrySearch system to generate a “large font” PDF). But profiles have been as short as 28 pages and as long as 113 pages.
- Ministers are interested in a balanced and nuanced view of your congregation so share what you love about yourselves as well as your growing edges. Ministers like to know what reality will meet them once they begin serving and what kind of ministry the congregation needs. If there are conflicts or neglected areas within the congregation describe them so the minister can determine if they have the skills to be helpful.
- The UUA encourages the search team to share the contents of the record with the congregation once approved and published. If elements of the congregational record might cause negative reactions in the congregation, please be in touch with the Congregational Transitions Director to strategize about framing or summarizing the record.
Time Requirement
Congregational records generally are completed over the fall through mid-November.
Key Dates
- Summer: the search team reviews all search profile questions as they prepare for the congregational assessment and small group meetings
- Fall: the search team decides how and by whom questions will be completed
- Mid to late November: The entire search team completes and reviews the search profile. The team seeks feedback on the completed profile from the interim minister and the Congregational Life staff contact
- Late November: search team and regional staff notify the Congregational Transitions Director that the search profile is ready for publication
- First week of December: the Congregational Transitions Director publishes all approved search profiles for prospective ministers’ review