Rev. Dawn Fortune receiving charge from Dr Janice Marie Johnson at their installation

Ordination is the congregational act of bestowing formal recognition of a minister's authority. An installation is the congregational act of formally entering into shared ministry with their professional minister.

The UUA's Ordination and Installation Handbook (PDF) was edited by Rev. Erika Hewitt, with content written by Rev. Wendy Bartel, Rev. Mary Gear, Rev. Jennifer Ryu, and Rev. Connie Simon.

We're grateful to all others who contributed their words, ideas, and experience to this document—including the process of updating it regularly. Indeed, the original 2019 handbook was updated in April 2023 to reflect shifting needs.

Our Ministerial Credentialing page contains information about the process of working towards ordination.

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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7

  • As you go forth into this new phase of your life’s adventure...
    Blessing | By Julia Corbett-Hemeyer | October 18, 2022 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Earth, Earth-Centered, Installations, Leadership, Nature, Ordinations
  • This work isn’t all prayers and beautiful moments, nor is it laments and trauma. It’s not even both/and, because this work is something greater than you, greater than us, greater than the whole of those we serve. This work is a calling. And we’re doing it. Day after day, night after night,...
    Blessing | By Andrea Hawkins-Kamper | January 16, 2019 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Calling, Challenge, Commitment, Compassion, Courage, Grace, Gratitude, Healing, Installations, Ministry, Ordinations, Vulnerability, Worship
  • All that we have been separately and all that we will become together is stretched out before and behind us like stars scattered across a canvas of sky. We stand at the precipice, arms locked together like tandem skydivers working up the courage to jump. Tell me, friends: What have we got to lose?
    Meditation | By Leslie Ahuvah Fails | October 6, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Beginnings, Body, Calling, Commitment, Courage, Homecoming / Ingathering, Installations, Interdependence, Judaism, Ordinations, Playfulness, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Relationships, Trust, Unitarian Universalism
  • Ministry is all that we do—Together Ministry is that quality of being in community that affirms human dignity— beckons forth hidden possibilities, invites us into deeper, more constant, reverent relationships, and carries forward our heritage of hope and liberation. Ministry is what we do...
    Meditation | By Gordon B McKeeman | May 14, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Courage, Dignity, Hope, Installations, Ministry, Ordinations, Relationships, Reverence, Service, Solidarity, Unity
  • With our words we have given our mind's consent to the letter of this covenant. Now let us come together in the spirit of covenant, laying on our hands, and offering our heart's consent. As we begin, join me in placing your hands over your heart. Feel its precious beating....
    Blessing | By Keith Goheen | April 22, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Commitment, Compassion, Hospitality, Installations, Ministry, Ordinations, Presence, Relationships, Reverence, Service, Spirituality, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb
  • Let us be in the spirit of prayer. In this precious moment in which we set apart and ordain a woman to our ministry, we pause to give thanks for this religious community of free spirits of which we are a part....
    Prayer | By William E Gardner | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Leadership, Ministry, Ordinations, Responsibility, Service
  • Gracious and loving Lord, in perfect assurance of Your presence here we pray your fulfillment of these blessings upon this minister who has been called from among these people to assume the office of pastor, preacher, prophet and servant. God, we pray that you will utterly possess N. in all of...
    Prayer | By Victoria Weinstein | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: God, Ministry, Ordinations