Serving Congregations & Ministers

May 2025

In this issue...

• Welcome to Interim Search 2025
• About Interim Search Year
• Helpful Search Reminders
• Staff Contact Information
• Notes on Process
• Recommended Calendar
• Sample Reference Questions
• Questions for Interim Ministry Consideration
• Important Links

• An interim ministry may not become a contract, settled, or developmental ministry with the same minister.
• Don’t hesitate to reach out for help (see below). 

• Congregations: Christine Purcell (cpurcell@uua.org)
• Ministers: Patrice Curtis (pcurtis@uua.org)
• General inquiries: transitions@uua.org

1. The names of applicants have been released. Congregations with few applicants will receive additional promotion.
2. Search committees and ministers receive automatic notifications through MinistrySearch.
3. Exchange information early: ministers should send 3+ references and search teams should send document packet links (access should be view-only, and anyone with the link should be able to access the packet)
4. When dismissing applicants, do so courteously through the system. You can edit the dismissal message once you click “dismiss.”
5. Check both provided and additional references. Ministers should check in with UUA regional staff to learn about ministry opportunities, and search teams should check in with regional staff to learn about top applicants.
6. Conduct all interviews via video or phone — not in-person.
7. Discuss compensation early.
8. Links to Interim Search Calendar and Interim Ministry Agreement template.
9. Ministers can still apply to congregations that have not received six applicants until Monday, May 12th at noon.
    

• May 6-7: Document exchange
• May 9: Reference checks (you may do these after interviews, but we encourage them  earlier)
• May 12-17: Zoom/phone interviews
• May 12: Ministers may contact UUA Transitions Team about search teams which have not been in communication with them: transitions@uua.org
• May 18: Make yes/no/maybe decisions
• May 19 by midnight PDT (REQUIRED): Submit rankings to transitions@uua.org
• May 20-21: be responsive to questions from UUA staff, receive match news 
• May 22 (noon EDT): Offer day! Ministers receive verbal offers from their match.
   

• “How have you experienced this minister doing ministry?”
• “How might this minister help us with _____?”
• “How can they help us reconnect with the wider world?”
   

• How will the minister prepare us for a new settled minister?
• How do people react to the departure of a long-term minister?
• How do they handle congregational grief?
• How does being "pre-fired" affect the relationship?
• How will they explain interim ministry?
• How do we best utilize the interim period?
• What draws them to interim ministry?
• How can they help us address challenges?
• What surprises should we expect?

• If you are new to interim ministry, you are expected to enroll in the Year-long Interim Ministry Training. The Interim Ministerial Agreement provides detail. Congregations are very strongly encouraged to include this in the Agreement.
• MinistrySearch Jobs Board