Job Description
(approved by the Board on 3/13/25)
Rationale: This at-large Board position was created in 2013 in order to implement a recommendation of the 2012 Task Force on Retired Ministry (a joint task force representing UURMaPA, the UUMA, the UU Interim Ministers Guild, and the UUA). The “Report of Joint Task Force on Retired Ministers: Recommendations and Resources for Best Practices in Right Relations among Settled, Interim, and Retired Ministers and their Families” is recommended for review, and is available for reference as a guideline for this job. (Find it on the UURMaPA website under RESOURCES/3 Helpful Publications.) Since this At-Large position involves coordination between the UUMA and UURMaPA, it should be filled by a retired minister.
Expectations: Several current duties include the following, and the Board may define others as needed:
- Serving as a UURMaPA Chaplain-At-Large, with publicized availability as a listening ear for UURMaPA members, both ministers and partners, with interpersonal problems with fellow members that might inhibit full participation. The Chaplain-at-Large also can serve as an intake and referral resource for UURMaPA members whose concerns might suggest UUMA Retired Ministers Good Offices support or UUA or UUMA staff support. If the Board has no partner member, the Chaplain-At-Large will be asked to be sensitive to partners’ concerns as they arise in Board deliberations. The Chaplain-At-Large also recruits and manages the three-person chaplain teams serving during UURMaPA Conferences.
- Serving as our liaison to the UUMA and the UUA — typically to the Office of Church Staff Finances regarding concerns related to all things retirement, and sometimes to the Professional Development Director.
- Serving as a liaison to other UU professional organizations: Liberal Religious Educators Association, Association of UU Administrators, Association of UU Musicians.
- Communicating with the leadership of the UUA and the UUMA regarding mutual concerns, invitations to participate in conferences, and shared program ideas.
- Managing logistics for UUMA and UUA staff participation in conferences, including occasional roles as an introducer or moderator for staff presentations.*
As part of the UURMaPA Board, this person will attend monthly Board meetings (online via ZOOM, and in-person if required annually at a conference), participate in decision-making and accept other duties as needed.
* New role added 8/28/2024
Revised by Wayne Arnason 3/16/23
Updated 9/7/23
Updated 2/13/25