Last updated: 08/26/2008

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Consulting Ministry Opportunities

 
Consulting Ministry
While the term Consulting Ministry is new, the concept of part-time ministry has been around for as long as ministry has been. Inviting a minister to be your spiritual guide and partner and to direct your congregation in its unique growth process is a special relationship. This may not be the same minister you end up calling, but this person plays a very important role to get your congregation ready for your called minister.
 
For a detailed explanation about consulting ministry, continue reading the material below. To indicate your interest in consulting ministry,  please contact:
 
Andrea Lerner, District Executive, at (914)-373-0193 or email (click icon) .
 
Current openings are listed at the bottom of this page.
 
CONSULTING MINISTRY FOR METRO NEW YORK DISTRICT CONGREGATIONS
 
WHY CONSULTING MINISTRY?
bullet As a congregation grows and develops, they are ready to move toward acquiring a minister. However, they may not be ready for a full time called minister.
 
WHAT IS CONSULTING MINISTRY?
bullet Consulting ministers are usually less than full-time ministers who agree to work with a congregation, to offer particular services for a specific time. This usually means that the minister is available for a minimum of one Sunday a month or up to two or three weekends a month. A typical agreement between the minister and the congregations might include a church year - that is, August until the following summer.
bullet Depending on the current needs, goals and resources a congregation has and the interests, availability and skills of the minister, the prospective consulting minister's services might range from Sunday worship services, to board and leadership development, to pastoral care and counseling.
bullet Each arrangement for a consulting minister is tailored to the specific needs of a congregation at its particular stage of its growth and development.
bullet A consulting minister might even include full time ministry for one year with specific tasks to prepare the congregation for its called minister.
 
HOW DO CONGREGATIONS AND MINISTERS CONNECT FOR CONSULTING MINISTRY?
bullet Connections between congregations seeking Consulting Ministers and available ministers are handled in the Metro NY District between the District Executive and the Search Committee of the congregation.
bullet Both congregations and ministers provide the District Executive with information about themselves. From these the District Executive explores possible matches and puts the minister and congregation in touch with each other.
 
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED SALARY/BENEFIT RANGES FOR CONSULTING MINISTRY?
bullet For best practices, consulting ministry agreements should follow the recommended UUA guidelines.
bullet For example, a small congregation seeking half-time service in the Metro NY Area might agree to provide an estimated $23,250-29,000 salary and housing for a year's contract, taking the experience of the candidate into consideration. Other expenses might include medical and other insurance, retirement plan contribution and Professional Expenses.
 
WHAT DOES THE CONGREGATION DO TO ARRANGE FOR A CONSULTING MINISTER?
bullet A congregation assembles a congregational packet that gives a prospective minister a feel for and appreciation of the congregation and community.
bullet The packet should also address issues of growth, developments and challenges the congregation needs to work with in the time the consulting minister will be there.
 
DO CONGREGATIONS AND MINISTERS HAVE ANY CHOICE?
bullet Yes. As in a regular search process, congregations will be offered names from available ministers. Ministers, too, express their interest or lack of it in working with a congregation seeking a Consulting Minister.
 
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
bullet Consulting ministries can allow congregations who have not experienced professional ministry to explore its possibilities in a structured form that reduces chances for misunderstanding and enhances opportunities for learning and growth.
bullet Consulting ministries are more flexible and less expensive than full-time ministries and take less time to arrange.
bullet Consulting ministries have beginnings and ends and so are closed-ended for both the congregation and the minister. Neither should have the expectation that they are settled with each other indefinitely.
 
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS?
bullet While they are acting as Consulting Ministers, the minister will probably be in search for more permanent and full-time employment.
bullet A part-time ministry cannot hope to provide all the services and commitment that a full-time ministry can provide.
 
PUTTING YOUR CONGREGATIONAL PACKET TOGETHER FOR CONSULTING MINISTRY
 
Your congregational packet should give a consulting minister a feel for and appreciation of your congregation and its community. Here is a list of suggested items to include in your packet. Many congregations use a loose-leaf notebook to organize all these items. Some congregations put all these documents on a private page of their congregational website and distribute the link to candidates.
 
About the Congregation:
bullet Pictures: the building, worship space, groups activities/outings, board committees, children
bullet Brief history and timeline of your congregation
bullet Bylaws (if available)
bullet Mission Statement (if available)
bullet Recent newsletters
bullet Orders of Service
bullet Long Range Planning Documents (if available)
bullet Newspaper articles about the congregation
bullet Video of a congregation event (if available)
bullet Anything else that tells your story and shares what is special about who you are.
 
About the Community (if the minister is not local):
bullet Maps of the area (Available from local Chamber of Commerce)
bullet Brochures describing the community, the events, the restaurants, shops, etc. (available from local Chamber of Commerce)
bullet Housing guides from rentals to buying including costs (available from local Chamber of Commerce)
bullet Population statistics/demographic profile
bullet Description of the industries in the area (available from local Chamber of Commerce)
 
Consulting Ministry Opportunities
 
Part-Time Consulting Minister - The UU Society of South Suffolk
 
 

Guided by our living faith, the Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York exists to be a source of connection and transformation for our congregations and our larger world.