How to Be a Unitarian Universalist Minister
The Unitarian Universalists (UUs) believe that the truth can be found along many paths. They don't have a specific doctrine they expect members to hold to, and don't even expect everyone to have the same concept of God--or even to believe in a deity at all. But that doesn't mean that anyone can lead a UU congregation. There are several steps involved in becoming an accredited UU minister.
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Instructions
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Begin by getting a bachelor's degree at an accredited college.
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Contact the Unitarian Universalist Association's (AAU) Ministerial Credentialing Office (MCO) or a Regional Subcommittee on Candidacy (RSCC) about your intention to become an accredited UU minister. You will be added to the list of applicants.
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Become an aspirant by being accepted to a theological school, completing interview forms and biographical information. You can complete your graduate program first, but you won't be eligible for financial aid from the UUA.
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Finish your first year of graduate studies before applying to be a candidate. You will then be required to have a career assessment, agree to abide by UUA policies and not to accept an intern position unless approved by the MCO, obtain sponsorship by a UU congregation and submit to an interview that will determine your fitness to become a minister.
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Finish your graduate program to be listed as a UUA accredited minister. Congregations in search of a minister will interview ministers on this list.
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Interview with search committees to find a congregation that's a good fit for you.
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Tips & Warnings
The UUA maintains a list of graduate schools that train UU ministers. The "big 3" are the Starr King School at Berkeley, the Harvard School of Divinity and the Meadville/Lombard School.
It doesn't matter what your personal beliefs are, but you do need to feel some kind of calling to the ministry. If you belonged to another religious denomination, you will be asked to show that you were in good standing before becoming a UU.
Sometimes the UUA finds that it must discourage a person from pursuing a career as a UU minister.
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iI have a Ph.D. in Education and Psychology. I had a psychological practice in St. Louis for 15 years. M.S. in Counseling Ed. Been a Unitarian since 1964. I am a leader in our Hemet, Ca. UU Fellowship. Would like to take some courses on-line and become a UU minister or ass't minister.
