Community Ministry

Despite centuries of prophetic ministerial service beyond the walls of a congregation within the Unitarian and Universalist traditions, community ministry was only formally recognized as a specialization within Unitarian Universalist ministerial fellowship in 1991. Community ministry remains misunderstood by many congregations, seminaries, students and ministers. In addition, there have been significant challenges affecting the development of good professional practice, due to the broad and flexible expression of community ministry within Unitarian Universalism.

Community ministers serve the cause of Unitarian Universalism in many ways. Some community ministers work independently or in an organization outside a congregation; others attempt to bridge congregations and secular organizations; still others serve part-time in a congregation, and work part-time in a community organization.

The purpose of these pages are to educate and empower community ministers to successfully bridge the gap between the granting of preliminary and final fellowship. Given that creativity is a hallmark of community ministry, it is not possible to offer a blueprint that every community minister must follow to advance toward final fellowship. This guide is intended to address the requirements with the suggestion of which order these steps might occur.

These pages were co-authored by the Rev. Jeanne Lloyd, co-chair of the Society for Community Ministries an independent affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association, and the Rev. David Pettee, Ministerial Credentialing Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The Rev. Beth Miller, Director of Ministry and Professional Leadership, bmiller@uua.org, is the primary contact person for issues relating to community ministry.

These pages were co-authored by the Rev. Jeanne Lloyd, co-chair of the Society for the Larger Ministry an independent affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association, and the Rev. David Pettee, Ministerial Credentialing Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association, dpettee@uua.org.

Unitarian Universalist Association
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