Introduction
Part of God’s good work of creation was to separate one thing from another: earth and sky, land and sea, day and night, work and rest. In the same way God in His grace has provided us with phases, cycles and rhythms to punctuate seasons of our lives. This is true of days and nights, weeks, seasons and years (See Genesis 1: 14). Consistent with this is the practice of Sabbatical seasons which follow longer seasons of life and ministry to facilitate rest, reflection, reorientation of our hearts, worship, thankfulness, hope and perseverance. While we are surely under no law relating to Sabbatical seasons, we can be confident that observing this principle is both wise and beneficial, resulting in greater maturity, fruitfulness and longevity in ministry.
The concept of a sabbatical is rooted in the biblical concept of “Sabbath” which God modelled (Genesis 2: 1-4a) and commanded (Exodus 20: 8-11). In Leviticus 25: 1-7, the Lord says that after the sixth year the people were not supposed to sow the fields or harvest a crop. The land was allowed to rest, and therefore, so were the people. Further, the Lord Jesus himself modelled and invited his disciples into rhythms of both work and spiritual rest (Luke 5: 16; Mark 6: 31-32).
Sabbaticals have often been used by churches to provide their pastors with the opportunity for rest and personal/pastoral renewal. Pastoral ministry is taxing in unique ways, so much so that only a small number of pastors who begin in pastoral ministry finish in pastoral ministry. The elders of Disciples Church greatly desire and value health, perseverance and longevity in ministry. Therefore, we are instituting a required sabbatical for all of our full-time pastors. A sabbatical is not punitive or a reward, necessarily, but a submission to the elders and Jesus Christ as the head of the church to experience rest and renewal as a sheep, and not as a shepherd.
Purpose
There are three primary purposes for Sabbaticals:
1. Rest - During the period of the sabbatical, the pastor will have an opportunity to
disconnect and rest from the rigours of day-to-day ministry. This rest should be intentional in both the physical and spiritual sense. In part, this rest will be a rest from productivity.
2. Reflection - During the period of the sabbatical, the pastor should focus on personal reflection through regular and perhaps extended time in the word and prayer.
3. Renewal - During the period of the sabbatical, the pastor will have an opportunity to pursue personal and ministerial renewal through activities like travel, retreats, conferences, journaling, extended family time, receiving counselling/coaching, planning for seasons ahead, etc.
It is important to note that the pastor is not required to “accomplish” anything during their Sabbatical and not pursue things like additional degrees, etc. The central purpose is to unplug from ministry, rest and be renewed by God to prepare for re-entry into ministry.
Eligibility
A Sabbatical may be granted to full-time pastors of Disciples Church who are in good standing. A Sabbatical may be approved after the completion of the first seven consecutive years of full-time continuous pastoral ministry at Disciples Church, and then every seventh year of continuous pastoral ministry thereafter. Time spent serving as a director, resident, intern, and part-time employee are not counted as part of the total years of service for the purposes of determining Sabbatical eligibility.
Application
The elders of Disciples Church are responsible for creating a Sabbatical calendar that outlines when pastors are eligible for Sabbaticals and in what order Sabbaticals will be taken. The pastor who is going on Sabbatical will submit a detailed Sabbatical plan to the elders at least three months prior to the scheduled Sabbatical. Every Sabbatical should include a proposed coach and supervising elder with whom the pastor on Sabbatical will connect regularly throughout the Sabbatical. Approval of a Sabbatical plan is at the discretion of the church elders.
The Sabbatical plan should include:
Sabbatical Phases
The Sabbatical Guidelines document developed by the Navigators outlines five important phases which need to be considered in developing a Sabbatical plan. The first and last phase occur before and after the Sabbatical period. Helpful questions are also provided corresponding to each phase below.
1. Release and Relinquish – During this first phase you disengage from the ministry and leadership responsibilities and establish a plan for your Sabbatical. The Sabbatical plan is an initial framework for direction and reflects priority needs. Ministry responsibilities are delegated and others are recruited to help with the Sabbatical.
2. Rest and Recovery – “Rest” in the second phase of the Sabbatical is not ceasing from all activity. Rather, it is ceasing from ministry activities and where possible, other stress factors. You should consider what restores you emotionally and feeds you spiritually. During this phase be sensitive to feelings of isolation or lack of significance. You should be out of regularly scheduled ministry activity but not out of fellowship.
3. Reflect and Refocus – During this phase, you should be asking the question, “Lord is there anything You want to say to me?” You should consider how God has spoken to you in the past and posture yourself to hear His voice. Scheduling extended time alone with God is a priority.
4. Realignment and/or Reassignment – This doesn’t necessarily imply a change of roles. During this phase of the Sabbatical, it’s important to review and reaffirm calling. The goal is to experience maximum contribution in this next season of life.
5. Re-Entry/Re-Engagement – In this phase you transition back into ministry. Expect transitional stresses, pace issues, spiritual warfare, and struggles to work out desired changes in life and ministry. Also expect the joy of renewed vision and perspective!
Timing
The period of a Sabbatical shall be seven consecutive weeks. Paid Sabbatical time is in addition to paid vacation time for the year in which the Sabbatical is taken. Vacation time can be added to the immediate end of a Sabbatical. The weeks must be taken consecutively in order to maximise the possibility for rest, refreshment, revitalisation and renewal. If possible, the Sabbatical should be scheduled at a time that will minimise the disruptive effect on the normal operation of the church.
Unless approved by the elders, no two pastors shall take a Sabbatical within six months of each other. If pastor’s Sabbatical plans conflict, priority shall be given to the most senior staff member in terms of length of service or urgency/necessity as determined by the elders.
Financial Agreement
During the Sabbatical, regular salary and full benefits will be paid. Reimbursable expenses will be determined on the basis of a Sabbatical budget approved by the elders. The final amount will be determined upon review of the plan, budget, and actual expenses. Disciples Church congregations should have a Sabbatical fund established in their yearly budget in preparation for future sabbaticals. If funds from Disciples Church are not available to fully cover the amount recommended, the pastor may raise additional support and apply for scholarships to aid in paying for the Sabbatical expenses.
Supervision and Reporting
A Sabbatical coaching call is to be scheduled during the pastor’s Sabbatical time at a minimum of fortnightly intervals. The purpose of these calls is to encourage the pastor; to provide accountability in keeping to the Sabbatical plan, and to help him process what the Lord is teaching him.
Upon returning, the pastor will make a written or oral report to the church and elders recapping how the time was spent and what was learned.
Employee and Church Agreement About Employment
The pastor who chooses to take a Sabbatical leave under this policy agrees to the following terms:
Because the Sabbatical leave is unlike an ordinary paid vacation in that its purpose is expressly for the future benefit of the employing church as well as for the present and future benefit of the employee, the employee agrees that as far as it depends on him, he will continue in his full-time service to the church for at least one year from the date of his return from Sabbatical leave. The pastor agrees that during the time on the Sabbatical, he will not be involved in looking for other job or ministry employment elsewhere.
The church agrees to the following terms.
Additional Guidelines for a Sabbatical
Due to the heavy loads on the family from pastoral ministry, the pastor’s family needs be included for most if not all of the Sabbatical. Down time and sabbath for the pastor’s wife must also be included in the plan since she carries a heavy load too as a pastor’s wife.
It is best to be away from home for at least half if not all of the Sabbatical. Therefore, arrangements and costs for travel, housing and activities must be provided by Disciples Church as a part of the budget.
Since Sabbaticals are for rest, be sure to have a schedule that promotes getting plenty of sleep during your time away.
Remember to include activities that will be enjoyable for you and your family during this time. Here are some examples of sabbatical activities that have been found to be helpful by others. This list is by no means considered to be exhaustive:
Part of God’s good work of creation was to separate one thing from another: earth and sky, land and sea, day and night, work and rest. In the same way God in His grace has provided us with phases, cycles and rhythms to punctuate seasons of our lives. This is true of days and nights, weeks, seasons and years (See Genesis 1: 14). Consistent with this is the practice of Sabbatical seasons which follow longer seasons of life and ministry to facilitate rest, reflection, reorientation of our hearts, worship, thankfulness, hope and perseverance. While we are surely under no law relating to Sabbatical seasons, we can be confident that observing this principle is both wise and beneficial, resulting in greater maturity, fruitfulness and longevity in ministry.
The concept of a sabbatical is rooted in the biblical concept of “Sabbath” which God modelled (Genesis 2: 1-4a) and commanded (Exodus 20: 8-11). In Leviticus 25: 1-7, the Lord says that after the sixth year the people were not supposed to sow the fields or harvest a crop. The land was allowed to rest, and therefore, so were the people. Further, the Lord Jesus himself modelled and invited his disciples into rhythms of both work and spiritual rest (Luke 5: 16; Mark 6: 31-32).
Sabbaticals have often been used by churches to provide their pastors with the opportunity for rest and personal/pastoral renewal. Pastoral ministry is taxing in unique ways, so much so that only a small number of pastors who begin in pastoral ministry finish in pastoral ministry. The elders of Disciples Church greatly desire and value health, perseverance and longevity in ministry. Therefore, we are instituting a required sabbatical for all of our full-time pastors. A sabbatical is not punitive or a reward, necessarily, but a submission to the elders and Jesus Christ as the head of the church to experience rest and renewal as a sheep, and not as a shepherd.
Purpose
There are three primary purposes for Sabbaticals:
1. Rest - During the period of the sabbatical, the pastor will have an opportunity to
disconnect and rest from the rigours of day-to-day ministry. This rest should be intentional in both the physical and spiritual sense. In part, this rest will be a rest from productivity.
2. Reflection - During the period of the sabbatical, the pastor should focus on personal reflection through regular and perhaps extended time in the word and prayer.
3. Renewal - During the period of the sabbatical, the pastor will have an opportunity to pursue personal and ministerial renewal through activities like travel, retreats, conferences, journaling, extended family time, receiving counselling/coaching, planning for seasons ahead, etc.
It is important to note that the pastor is not required to “accomplish” anything during their Sabbatical and not pursue things like additional degrees, etc. The central purpose is to unplug from ministry, rest and be renewed by God to prepare for re-entry into ministry.
Eligibility
A Sabbatical may be granted to full-time pastors of Disciples Church who are in good standing. A Sabbatical may be approved after the completion of the first seven consecutive years of full-time continuous pastoral ministry at Disciples Church, and then every seventh year of continuous pastoral ministry thereafter. Time spent serving as a director, resident, intern, and part-time employee are not counted as part of the total years of service for the purposes of determining Sabbatical eligibility.
Application
The elders of Disciples Church are responsible for creating a Sabbatical calendar that outlines when pastors are eligible for Sabbaticals and in what order Sabbaticals will be taken. The pastor who is going on Sabbatical will submit a detailed Sabbatical plan to the elders at least three months prior to the scheduled Sabbatical. Every Sabbatical should include a proposed coach and supervising elder with whom the pastor on Sabbatical will connect regularly throughout the Sabbatical. Approval of a Sabbatical plan is at the discretion of the church elders.
The Sabbatical plan should include:
- A description of the desired sabbatical activities
- A statement of how these activities will benefit the staff member and/ or the church
- The dates selected for the Sabbatical
- A budget outlining Sabbatical costs for proposed expenses such as travel, classes, retreats, counselling etc.
- How the pastor’s church-related responsibilities will be carried out during the sabbatical.
Sabbatical Phases
The Sabbatical Guidelines document developed by the Navigators outlines five important phases which need to be considered in developing a Sabbatical plan. The first and last phase occur before and after the Sabbatical period. Helpful questions are also provided corresponding to each phase below.
1. Release and Relinquish – During this first phase you disengage from the ministry and leadership responsibilities and establish a plan for your Sabbatical. The Sabbatical plan is an initial framework for direction and reflects priority needs. Ministry responsibilities are delegated and others are recruited to help with the Sabbatical.
2. Rest and Recovery – “Rest” in the second phase of the Sabbatical is not ceasing from all activity. Rather, it is ceasing from ministry activities and where possible, other stress factors. You should consider what restores you emotionally and feeds you spiritually. During this phase be sensitive to feelings of isolation or lack of significance. You should be out of regularly scheduled ministry activity but not out of fellowship.
3. Reflect and Refocus – During this phase, you should be asking the question, “Lord is there anything You want to say to me?” You should consider how God has spoken to you in the past and posture yourself to hear His voice. Scheduling extended time alone with God is a priority.
4. Realignment and/or Reassignment – This doesn’t necessarily imply a change of roles. During this phase of the Sabbatical, it’s important to review and reaffirm calling. The goal is to experience maximum contribution in this next season of life.
5. Re-Entry/Re-Engagement – In this phase you transition back into ministry. Expect transitional stresses, pace issues, spiritual warfare, and struggles to work out desired changes in life and ministry. Also expect the joy of renewed vision and perspective!
Timing
The period of a Sabbatical shall be seven consecutive weeks. Paid Sabbatical time is in addition to paid vacation time for the year in which the Sabbatical is taken. Vacation time can be added to the immediate end of a Sabbatical. The weeks must be taken consecutively in order to maximise the possibility for rest, refreshment, revitalisation and renewal. If possible, the Sabbatical should be scheduled at a time that will minimise the disruptive effect on the normal operation of the church.
Unless approved by the elders, no two pastors shall take a Sabbatical within six months of each other. If pastor’s Sabbatical plans conflict, priority shall be given to the most senior staff member in terms of length of service or urgency/necessity as determined by the elders.
Financial Agreement
During the Sabbatical, regular salary and full benefits will be paid. Reimbursable expenses will be determined on the basis of a Sabbatical budget approved by the elders. The final amount will be determined upon review of the plan, budget, and actual expenses. Disciples Church congregations should have a Sabbatical fund established in their yearly budget in preparation for future sabbaticals. If funds from Disciples Church are not available to fully cover the amount recommended, the pastor may raise additional support and apply for scholarships to aid in paying for the Sabbatical expenses.
Supervision and Reporting
A Sabbatical coaching call is to be scheduled during the pastor’s Sabbatical time at a minimum of fortnightly intervals. The purpose of these calls is to encourage the pastor; to provide accountability in keeping to the Sabbatical plan, and to help him process what the Lord is teaching him.
Upon returning, the pastor will make a written or oral report to the church and elders recapping how the time was spent and what was learned.
Employee and Church Agreement About Employment
The pastor who chooses to take a Sabbatical leave under this policy agrees to the following terms:
Because the Sabbatical leave is unlike an ordinary paid vacation in that its purpose is expressly for the future benefit of the employing church as well as for the present and future benefit of the employee, the employee agrees that as far as it depends on him, he will continue in his full-time service to the church for at least one year from the date of his return from Sabbatical leave. The pastor agrees that during the time on the Sabbatical, he will not be involved in looking for other job or ministry employment elsewhere.
The church agrees to the following terms.
- The church agrees that it will not in any way seek a replacement for an employee during his Sabbatical leave.
- The church agrees that it will honour the leave of the employee and agrees not to contact him with church business except in case of emergency.
Additional Guidelines for a Sabbatical
Due to the heavy loads on the family from pastoral ministry, the pastor’s family needs be included for most if not all of the Sabbatical. Down time and sabbath for the pastor’s wife must also be included in the plan since she carries a heavy load too as a pastor’s wife.
It is best to be away from home for at least half if not all of the Sabbatical. Therefore, arrangements and costs for travel, housing and activities must be provided by Disciples Church as a part of the budget.
Since Sabbaticals are for rest, be sure to have a schedule that promotes getting plenty of sleep during your time away.
Remember to include activities that will be enjoyable for you and your family during this time. Here are some examples of sabbatical activities that have been found to be helpful by others. This list is by no means considered to be exhaustive:
- Cross-cultural experiences.
- Marriage enrichment activities with a trained counsellor.
- Engaging in an extensive physical examination.
- Regular exercise.
- Times of extended solitude.
- Visiting other churches and interacting with people in a similar role.
- Visiting family members, mentors, or former colleagues.
- Resting, relaxing, and exercising.
- Keeping a journal.