Pulpit Supply Minister

We are seeking an engaging and collaborative minister to preach occasionally at Sunday worship services. The Occasional Pulpit Minister will prepare and deliver thoughtful, inspiring sermons that connect Unitarian Universalist values with the spiritual, ethical, and lived concerns of a small congregation.

The ideal candidate will bring warmth, theological breadth, strong communication skills, and sensitivity to the unique character of a close-knit community. The minister will work with the Worship Committee or designated congregational leader to develop services that are meaningful, accessible, and inclusive.

Essential Responsibilities

• Preach an original sermon or homily during scheduled Sunday worship services.
• Collaborate with the Worship Committee or designated worship leader on the service theme, readings, music, and overall order of worship.
• Prepare worship elements that are grounded in Unitarian Universalist values and responsive to the congregation’s life and concerns.
• Offer sermons that are spiritually nourishing, intellectually engaging, relevant, and appropriate for a multigenerational audience.
• Participate in selected portions of the service, such as opening words, readings, prayer or meditation, pastoral reflection, and closing words, as agreed in advance.
• Coordinate with worship leaders, musicians, lay participants, and technology volunteers.
• Provide service materials, sermon titles, readings, and biographical information by agreed-upon deadlines.
• Arrive sufficiently early to review the worship space, meet participants, and address final logistical needs.
• Remain after worship when possible to greet members and visitors and participate in informal fellowship.
• Honor the congregation’s traditions, history, theological diversity, and congregational covenant.
• Maintain appropriate pastoral boundaries and respect the confidentiality of personal information shared in a congregational setting.

Qualifications

• Ordination or equivalent ministerial formation and experience.
• Demonstrated experience preaching in Unitarian Universalist or other progressive religious settings.
• Strong writing, public speaking, and worship leadership skills.
• Familiarity with Unitarian Universalist theology, history, values, and worship practices.
• Ability to engage respectfully with a theologically diverse congregation.
• Warm, approachable, and collaborative interpersonal style.
• Reliability, good preparation, and clear communication.
• Comfort working with volunteer-led worship and limited administrative infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving small congregations or lay-led congregations.
• Experience preaching to multigenerational audiences.
• Familiarity with worship themes related to justice, spirituality, humanism, environmental responsibility, community, grief, hope, and belonging.
• Ability to incorporate poetry, visual art, music, story, ritual, or other forms of expression into worship.
• Experience with online or hybrid worship, when applicable.
• Availability for occasional pastoral conversation or follow-up by prior agreement.

Compensation and Scheduling

The minister will be engaged on a service-by-service or mutually agreed-upon contract basis. Compensation will be [amount] per service and may include reimbursement for approved travel expenses.

Service dates will be scheduled in advance, ordinarily with at least [number] weeks’ notice. The congregation will provide the minister with relevant information about the service theme, worship format, congregation, and any pastoral or community context that may inform preparation.

Any additional responsibilities—such as pastoral care, committee participation, premarital counseling, memorial services, or congregational meetings—must be agreed upon separately and compensated accordingly.

Working Relationship

The Occasional Pulpit Minister will work primarily with the Worship Committee, Board President, or other designated congregational contact. The minister is expected to communicate promptly, honor agreed-upon deadlines, and participate in a collaborative planning process that respects the congregation’s lay leadership.