Sabbaticals
The Wesleyan Church strongly encourages the rhythm of a sabbatical every seventh year to give sustainable energy, perspective, renewal, vision, and rest. We deeply desire and need our pastors to be spiritually healthy, morally fit, visionary, spirit-led, and renewed in their heart, mind and soul. And it is from this place that we can accomplish the mission that God has set before us to seek and save the lost.
Precedent for Sabbaticals:
The Bible teaches of the importance of interspersing work and rest with a sabbatical (an extended Sabbath) every seventh year. We believe that if each pastor and leader spent intentional time creating well-thought-out, well-designed and well-timed sabbaticals, we would witness far less burn-out and moral failure and would experience exceedingly more fruitful ministries.
Wesleyan Stance:
+ Discipline: P 724. Sabbatical for Pastors.
“Every Wesleyan church is encouraged to provide a sabbatical leave for its pastor(s) at least every seven years of service. A sabbatical shall be for a minimum of four weeks in excess of vacation time with financial provisions as approved by the local board of administration.”
What is a Sabbatical?
“A period of time (usually 3 months) when professional church workers set aside their normal responsibilities at their congregation for the purpose of renewal and sustained excellence in ministry.” (WheatRidge.org Ministry Sabbatical Resource)
A period of paid leave granted to a pastor for study or travel, traditionally every seventh year.
Sacred Pause: Planning a Sabbatical that renews you and your church.
Benefits of Taking Sabbatical: (Taken from Wheatridge.org)
- The very nature of being an effective minister involves continual spiritual growth.
- The rapid changes in parish ministry. The danger that without renewal those in ministry face a stronger chance of exhibiting the key characteristics of burnout.
- The lethal effect of burnout that makes ministry and the minister, dull, hollow and uninteresting.
- The pastoral role that involves long, hard hours without weekends off.
- The opportunity for congregations to examine their tendency to become overly dependent on their professional church workers.
Kinds of Sabbaticals
Burnout– DS recognizes the pastor needs a helpful, restorative break before returning to serve a church.
Personal Wellbeing– The preventative side of ‘burnout’. Ensures refilling, which every pastor needs.
Study/New Perspective– Taking time for further personal academic or cultural improvement.
Leadership/Vision Casting– Similar to study, for the purpose of casting vision, etc.
Notes for Protocol for Sabbaticals
- Work with Church & D.S.
- Set up an assessment at beginning to decide need.
- Time spent researching and planning for specific sabbatical
- Formalize an agreement between pastor, DS, & church (on sabbatical purpose, time expectation, used resources, boundaries, etc.)
Time Expectations
Local churches encourage at least 4 weeks off (in addition to vacations), though often towards 3 months or more, depending on need.