All searching congregations, searching ministers, and those who assist congregations and ministers in the search process covenant with one another for a fair and responsible search process.

After a negotiated or conflicted ministry ending, congregations are held in special care by UUA staff. Regional staff and the UUA Transitions Team will work with the congregation's leaders to reflect on what led to the troubled ending and what is needed, before making plans to move forward.

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, eligible and available.

The MinistrySearch system is open to UU ministers in Fellowship (and in good standing) with the UUA. All ministers are encouraged to be members of the UU Ministers Association (UUMA). All ministers in search must follow the guidelines of the UUMA whether they are a member or not.Non-fellowshipped...

Things to consider as you begin to work on your search profile and discern your potential match with the congregations in search.

A quick reference listing the information and questions that are part of the ministerial record in the UUA's MinistrySearch system.

The UUA's ministry search process is open to UU ministers in Fellowship. Here you'll find advice that can help you navigate the search process.

The UUA is announcing the creation of the Transitions Review Task Force (TRTF) charged with designing a constituent-driven process of both listening and assessing the UUA’s ministerial transitions system.

A difficult parting from any type of ministry puts a minister on a temporary hold from ministry search. Here is an overview of the process.

Contract ministries can also benefit from reflection on the course of the ministry with the congregation using exit interviews.

Regional staff are asked to share information from their perspective that will help the congregation.

This interview is a tool for reflection and increasing self-awareness of the congregation at the end of this ministry.

This interview is a tool for reflection and increasing self-awareness of the minister and for providing another lens about the congregation being served at the end of this ministry.

Outlining a process and following it closely will enable all of the involved parties to keep clear boundaries and honor everyone's dignity by keeping appropriate confidentiality.

Staff should practice well-boundaried relationships with the departing minister and help the congregation prepare for the new minister.

Leaving well is a time for reflecting on the ministry's accomplishments and lessons, and reassuring the congregation as they will move to a new future.

Congregations facing the departure of a minister should focus on ending the ministry well while planning for the future.

The Guidelines of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA) (Art. IX, Sec. C, D & E) mandate that the greatest sensitivity and care be exercised in the relations between the retired minister, the congregation and the new incumbent minister.

After a minister has retired from a congregation that they have served in a full, long, and mutually meaningful ministry, the congregation may wish to honor the shared ministry by designating them as minister emerit/us/a.

When a minister decides to retire, the first step is submitting the Intent to Retire Form to the UUA's Ministries and Faith Development staff.