A Guide for Ministers

When embarking on the journey of negotiating a call agreement with a church, it's essential to approach this process with a combination of spiritual discernment and practical wisdom, so that you can negotiate an agreement constructively. If you are a minister in discernment or a recent seminary graduate, here are some tips to help you navigate the negotiation process.

• Seek Initial Guidance: Before negotiations begin, consider speaking with other ministry colleagues and your Conference staff who have gone through the negotiation process and who can offer additional guidance and support. Identify which terms of the call agreement are negotiable and which ones are non-negotiable for you and your family’s overall well-being.
  
  
• Clarify Roles and Expectations: With congregational leaders, clearly define your role, responsibilities, and expectations. Discuss matters such as preaching frequency, pastoral care duties, involvement in community outreach, and any additional responsibilities the church may have in mind. Establishing a shared understanding from the outset fosters a healthy working relationship.
  
  
• Financial and Health Considerations: Discuss financial matters openly and transparently. This includes salary, housing allowance, which should be defined annually, retirement contributions, social security offset, as well as insurance benefits, including medical and life/disability insurance. Be realistic about your needs and know whether the church can afford to pay you an appropriate living wage. If not, be willing to walk away. Aim for a mutually beneficial agreement. Consider also exploring the pension and health benefit plans offered by the Pension Boards (1.800.642.6543) to support your health and financial well-being.
  
  
• Call Agreement Duration and Renewal Terms: Address the duration of the call agreement and conditions for review.. This ensures clarity about the commitment from both parties and allows for open communication about potential changes or adjustments in the future.
  
  
• Continuing Education and Vacation/Leave Time: Explore opportunities for continuing education, spiritual development, and building a library of resources, and agree on how much money and time will be available from the congregation to support your growth in terms of leadership and spirituality. Also, explore how many weeks or months of vacation/leave time or sabbatical will be available for you to rest, rejuvenate, or engage in deeper study.
  
  
• Balancing Personal and Professional Life: Negotiate a healthy work-life balance. Clearly outline expectations regarding working hours, days off, and any potential exceptions. This ensures both you and the church are aligned on maintaining a sustainable and fulfilling ministry. Consider setting up a reminder in your calendar or scheduling a meeting with a colleague about 3-6 months into the call to reflect and review how the work-life balance is emerging and make any necessary changes sooner rather than later.

• Wider Church and Community Involvement: Since the UCC is a covenantal denomination, the expectation is that pastors and lay leaders will participate in the life of the wider church. Discussing how your local church understands these relationships at the beginning is valuable for all involved. Time and financial support to attend and/or serve on Association, Conference, and National gatherings such as General Synod can be defined in the call agreement. Likewise, it is also helpful to discuss the expectation or ability to serve on neighborhood or community committees.

• Legal and Tax Considerations: While some church call agreements may not be legally binding, you may consider consulting legal and tax professionals to ensure the call agreement adheres to applicable state laws and regulations. This step safeguards both parties and helps prevent any unforeseen legal issues.

Negotiating a call agreement is a life-changing step. By approaching the process with thorough research, open communication, and a reliance on spiritual discernment, you pave the way for a fruitful and fulfilling ministry with your new church community.

Visit the UCC Resources store to purchase the Call Agreement Workbook, a resource from the United Church of Christ's Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization (MESA) Team.