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. If you are a minister interested in serving as a consulting minister, or you desire the services of one, please contact:
Annette Marquis, District Executive, (800) 549-0751 amarquis@uua.org .

CONSULTING MINISTRY FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON DISTRICT CONGREGATIONS

WHY CONSULTING MINISTRY?

• 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.

• 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 weekends a month. A typical agreement between the minister and the congregations might include a church year - that is, August until the following summer.
• 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.
• Each arrangement for a consulting minister is tailored to the specific needs of a congregation at its particular stage of its growth and development.
• A consulting minister might even include full time ministry for one year with specific tasks to prepare the congregation for its called minister.

• Connections between congregations seeking Consulting Ministers and available ministers are handled in the Thomas Jefferson District between the District Executive and the Search Committee.
• Both congregations and ministers provide the District Office with packets about themselves. From these the District Executive explores possible matches and puts the minister and congregation in touch with each other.

• Consulting ministry agreements can range up to $25,000 for a year's contract.
• For part-time ministry, the compensation would be higher.

• A congregation assembles a congregational packet that gives a prospective minister a feel for and appreciation of the congregation and community.
• 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.

• 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.

• 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.
• Consulting ministries are more flexible and less expensive than full-time ministries and take less time to arrange.
• 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.

• While they are acting as Consulting Ministers, the minister will probably be in search for more permanent and full-time employment.
• 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.

About the Congregation:

• Pictures: the building, worship space, groups activities/outings, board committees, children
• Brief history and timeline of your congregation
• Bylaws (if available)
• Mission Statement (if available)
• Recent newsletters
• Orders of Service
• Long Range Planning Documents (if available)
• Newspaper articles about the congregation
• Video of a congregation event (if available)
• Anything else that tells your story and shares what is special about who you are.

• Maps of the area (Available from local Chamber of Commerce)
• Brochures describing the community, the events, the restaurants, shops, etc. (available from local Chamber of Commerce)
• Housing guides from rentals to buying including costs (available from local Chamber of Commerce)
• Population statistics/demographic profile
• Description of the industries in the area (available from local Chamber of Commerce)