September 2024: Contact UUA Minister Transitions Director
The president of the Board talked to Christine Purcel, UUA Minister Transitions Director, about UUFR’s desire to start the search process early. Christine agreed to assist UUFR informally until June, 2025, when the regularly scheduled UUA search process for ministers begins. The Board invited her to do a brief overview of the search process for the Board on October 12, 8 pm by Zoom at the monthly business meeting. This is the tentative schedule we will be following for the settled minister search based on our discussion with the UUA Transitions Director.
October 2024 to February 2025: Create Search Team
The Nominating Committee sent out a congregational survey to solicit nominations for the Search Team at the end of October 2024. They created a list of the top 15 nominations. They contacted those to determine who was interested in and had the time to be on the Search Committee. They interviewed the nominees and selected seven (7) to recommend to the congregation. They notified the Board of their recommendations to be voted on by the congregation.
Spring 2025: Initiate Formal Search for Settled Minister
In April, 2025, the UUFR Board submitted an official request to begin the ministerial search process with the UUA. The Director of the Transitions Office approved the request.
June 8, 2025: Congregational Vote
The Board will organize and implement a congregational meeting. During the meeting, the congregation will vote for the members of the Search Team. At the congregational meeting, as part of the budget process, the congregation will approve a budget for the search process.
Summer 2025: Create a Negotiating Team
In the summer of 2025, the Board will appoint a Negotiating Team which will be responsible for drafting a ministry agreement which reflects the relationship the congregation hopes to have with the minister it will call, and later negotiates that agreement with the ministerial candidate.
June 2025: UUA Orientation for the Board
The UUA will host an overview of the Ministry/Search System for the Boards of congregations who will be in search for a settled minister.
July 2025: Retreat for Search Team
The UUA will facilitate a retreat for the Search Team and the Search Team enters into a covenant with the UUA.
Summer 2025 – December 2025: Search Team Creates the Congregational Record to Submit to the UUA
As required by the UUA, the Search Team completes a formal Congregational Record and submits it to the UUA for approval and placement in the Ministry/Search system. This document is reviewed by candidates in search for a settled lead minister position.
Fall 2025 : Survey the Congregation
The Search Team gathers input from the congregation through a survey as we move towards a different future with a new minister. The UUA provides the survey template. The Search Team analyzes the information from the survey.
Fall 2025: Feedback and Reflection Sessions
In the Fall of 2025, the Search Committee and the Committee on Ministry will collaborate to conduct Feedback and Reflection sessions to gather input about how to describe UUFR to a new minister and to describe measures of success for a new minister.
December 2025: Initiation of Search in the Ministry/Search System
The Search Team contacts the UUA to request the initiation of the search process in the Ministry/Search system.
January – June 2026: Applicant Interviews and Selection of Candidate
In January the Search Team prepares for applicant interviews. The UUA releases the names of the initial applicants. Interested ministers and the Search Team share information. The Search Team interviews candidates. The Search Team selects the best matches for the settled Minister at UUFR and pre-candidating offers are extended and accepted. In the spring, candidates come to UUFR to meet with the Search Team. The Search Team develops references and does follow-up interviews as needed. The Search Team submits a yes/no/maybe list to the UUA Transitions Office on March 31, 2026. The UUA distills and confirms matches in April 2026. The Negotiating Team negotiates an agreement with the ministerial candidate in April 2026. The Search Team announces the candidate in April 2026.
In June, 2026, the candidate comes to UUFR to meet lay leaders, the Board of Directors, and staff, and speaks from the pulpit. On the same day that the ministerial candidate speaks to the congregation, a congregational meeting is held to welcome the new minister.
