Ministerial Residency - Congregations Congregation Qualifications, Expectations and Application

As the site for the ministerial residency, congregations are key.

Qualifications

  • Interest in supporting a new minister in the Ministerial Residency Program.
  • Be an Honor or Honor Path Congregation (Congregations may discuss this with their Regional Lead).
  • Ability to provide compensation for Ministerial Resident and Supervisor.
  • Willingness to work with Resident, Supervisor and Regional Leads.
  • Openness to Regional Lead assessment of the congregation’s readiness and understanding of the program which may include conversations with congregational leadership. The regional lead may also consult with the UUA Transitions Team.

Areas of Congregational Health

The Regional Lead with assess the following areas for congregational readiness to participate in the Ministerial Residency program:

  • Why does the congregation want to have a ministerial resident? How do they understand their role in supporting a minister’s formation?
  • Do they understand the role of the supervising minister in relation to congregational leadership?
  • What is their past relationship with ministers like?
  • What kind of conflicts do they tend to have?
  • How engaged is the congregation with the regional staff, and what has that relationship been like?
  • How does power flow in this congregation? Who has official and unofficial authority?
  • Do they have clear financial policies and systems?
  • Do they have a safe congregation policy? Destructive persons policy? What processes do they have to follow with unsafe or destructive behavior?
  • Are they an honor congregation or willing to become an honor path congregation?
  • Potential reasons a congregation might not meet the threshold for congregational health include:
    • History of negotiated resignation in the last 10 years
    • Pattern of harmful behavior toward past ministers
    • Pattern in congregation of failing to set boundaries around harmful lay behavior
    • Shadow governance – if the pattern of power in the congregation is such that the Board is disempowered or undermined by other bodies, official or unofficial.

Expectations

  • Provide an opportunity for ministerial experience.
  • Congregational leadership meets with Ministerial Resident, Regional Lead and supervisor as needed/requested.
  • Conduct interviews with potential ministerial residents as they would a contract minister.
  • Compensation of Supervisor : Stipend of $11,880 (geo index 1-2), $13,200 (geo index 3-4), and $14,520 (geo index 5-8)

  • Compensation of Ministerial Resident : At least the minimum on recommended salary range for the congregation’s geo index. Pay relocation expenses for the Resident (if needed) up to $10,000. Budget 10% of salary as professional expenses or $8,000 whichever is larger. When financially able, support the resident in attending the annual transitions training (congregations with interim ministers are asked to pay at least $2000).

    Upon hiring, ministerial residents are considered employees and eligible for applicable benefits. Unless they have received preliminary fellowship, they are not eligible for treatment as a minister for tax purposes. Residents don’t receive UUA Retirement Plan contributions unless already eligible, become eligible based on 12 months/1000 hours during the year, or become fellowshipped during the course of the Residency.

  • Only work with Regional Lead about potential residents. Ministerial Residents are not to approach congregations directly. Doing so could undermine the congregation’s search process. The UUMA code of conduct supports the UUA’s Settlement and Search process and asks members to abide by it.
  • Abide by covenant with the Transitions Office and Regional Staff that outlines responsibilities.
  • Meet with the supervising minister to clarify expectations and working relationship before finalizing the position and negotiating the contract.

Application

Regional staff will encourage congregations with the potential to serve as residency sites to consider applying.

Final approval of the congregational site will come from a team of Regional Leads.

Approved congregations sign a covenant with the Transitions Office and Regional Staff that outlines responsibilities.

Congregations can fill out an interest form through the transitions office.