The word “sabbatical” has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. It has one meaning in the academic community, another meaning in its biblical usage, and still another in many secular settings.
For the purpose of this article, I define sabbatical in simple terms. It simply means time off for rest and/or study. The time can be a few days, a few weeks or, on rare occasions, a few months. The pastor is given paid leave for rest, rejuvenation and, perhaps, deeper study. I would love to see churches of all sizes provide this requirement of their pastor, even if it’s only for a few days.
I have the opportunity to work with lay leaders and pastors. I have a pretty good view of both perspectives. And I am convinced that more lay leaders need to insist their pastors take regular breaks even beyond vacations. Allow me to provide five reasons for my rationale.
- A pastor has emotional highs and lows unlike most other vocations. In the course of a day, a pastor can deal with death, deep spiritual issues, great encouragement, petty criticisms, tragedies, illnesses, and celebrations of birth. The emotional roller coaster is draining. Your pastor needs a break—many times a break with no distractions.
- A pastor is on 24-hour call. Most pastors don’t have an “off” switch. They go to sleep with the knowledge they could be awakened by a phone call at anytime of the day. Vacations are rarely uninterrupted. It can be an exhausting vocation, and a sabbatical can be a welcome time to slow down.
- Pastors need time of uninterrupted study. It doesn’t usually happen in the study at church or home. There is always the crisis or need of the moment. Church members expect sermons that reflect much prayer and study. The pastor’s schedule often works against that ideal. The sabbatical can offer much needed, and uninterrupted, study time.
- Pastors who have sabbaticals have longer tenure at churches. Though my information is anecdotal, I do see the trend. And while I cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship, I feel confident that pastors who have sabbaticals are much more likely to stay at a church because they are less likely to experience burnout.
- Pastors who have sabbaticals view the time off as an affirmation from their churches. I have heard from many pastors who share with me a sentence similar to this one: “I know my church loves me because they give me a sabbatical.” Pastors need affirmation. Sabbaticals can accomplish that goal.
I estimate that only about five percent of churches offer sabbaticals. In almost every case where I am familiar, the relationship between pastor and congregation is very healthy. I do think at least one of the reasons is the sabbatical.
What is your view of sabbaticals for pastors? What would you add to my five reasons?
Posted on February 1, 2014
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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162 Comments
Steve Johnson, re your 12:19 PM post, I could not agree more! WELL said!
If I was a pastor, I suppose I could support how hard the job is, the value of getting away and renewing one’s spirit, how no one understands the pressures, blah blah blah. But has a hard working tithing businessman, I say “really”? Are you kidding? I wouldn’t say I don’t want or need a sabbatical, but as a business owner and longtime observer of businesspeople, I don’t see many regular church members can afford to take an extended uninterrupted time of “renewal.” Trust me when I tell you, in love, regular joes in the pew resent it when this happens (I know we shouldn’t, but we do, pray for us, on your sabbatical.).
With all due respect Sir, I don’t know of another profession where the CEO is on call 24/7. Any pastor worth his weight carries the burden of, not just his family, BUT as the Article stated, an entire church. You can’t quantify the stress level on the number of sermons he preaches in a week. Not can you relate a “standard” 40/50 hour a week “business man” job with the load of a Pastor.
I’ve been both, AND I’m telling you, you don’t have a clue.
Ah, but Patrick I assure you – CEO’s are always on call 24/7/365. We have a number of families whose income and livelihoods depends on our performance. When we don’t perform bad things happen to those we employ. I will grant you that you too are always on call, but that was my point. One job is not necessarily harder or more demanding than the other. Please be fair – work is work and stress and stress.
Jim, I do not doubt that as a CEO, you face stress. However, I feel you are missing the main point of the difference. Let me ask you one question. Does what you do as CEO of your company affect the very soul and eternal life of the people within your company? As a Pastor for example, what I say to a person when they are on their deathbed, can and does directly affect that persons eternal life. If I say something wrong or appear indifferent to their situation….it could cause that person to turn away from God and spend eternity in hell. The opposite is true as well. Can you say that your responsibilities as CEO have the same eternal consequences? You… have to answer to your stockholders and employees, Pastors must ultimately answer to our Creator.
Ron, come on man.
If you really feel that someone’s soul depends on how well you share God’s love with Him you are putting too much faith in the messenger and too little faith in the message.
God saves people, not your words or how well you say them. I sure hope you don’t stress about this. You will worry your self to death for nothing.
Everybody is making way too much of the differences between pastoring a church and other heavy responsibility jobs.
Consider this, a CEO, a Pastor, a Police officer, a marriage therapist all carry a load that with enough time can make you a dark soul. The longer the load is carried without reprieve the more likely a slip or a fall is. Whatever company’s, organizations, businesses, churches that can make an extended time away possible for strategic personnel that they want to keep would do well to offer it. Heck, I could be jealous of the benefits company’s give to my members that my members don’t give to me. Some get great health insurance, others don’t. Some get more vacation others don’t. Some get 401k and matching $ not many pastors do. Probably a very rare few. But what good does it do to compare and soak in jealousy and resentment.
Jim, raise up a leader in your company that can carry your role for awhile. Give your employees and customers a refreshed, clear thinking CEO who steps back in with fresh eyes and ears. If you entrust others with some opportunities they may like to jump at the chance for you make better leaders out of them too.
When you’ve done this for yourself and your company then sit back and see if you resent doing it for your pastor. I’ll bet you if you do it well you will be the one arguing for a pastoral sabbatical policy instead of resenting it or being jealous of it.
This whole stream of responses is discouraging to read actually. “I don’t get one so why should they.” How juvenile and selfish and unbiblical!
The attitude should reflect the spirit of Christ and generosity. If we can lets do it. If we can’t do 3 months every six years lets do 2 months every five. Or one month every summer. Figure out what would be good and do it.
Pastor Mike Lopp
18 years in current role and 29 altogether.
1st sabbatical might come next year if we can all think maturely about it.
Jim I know that not the truth NO CEO is on call 24/7 365 a year!
I spent years working for a bank in the world head quarters location in NYC. The Chairman, CEO, President were not on call 24/7 365 days a year. If you said a small business owner I might say yes that could be possible in some cases not all. The real people who need to be given sabbaticals are Pastors, Doctors, Firemen and Police officers. If would help them in their prospective fields better.
The pastor who is taking sabbatonal would have to be doing enough church work thay he would deserve it. Ours does NOT. His teen/ children’s minister does all hospital visits, home visits and death visits. I have NEVER known ours to do any of those things . When we lost our son we did not receive a call a visit or even a card from our senior padtor.
Thom,
Your blog is well taken. I have many friends serving as pastors who could benefit from some uninterrupted time alone with God. I know such time is precious to me.
I would like to see our convention make some commitment through the Cooperative Program to help pastors and churches do this by providing interim pastors and financial support so that is possible even in the small church in remote areas. Maybe you, from your position of influence, could stir this pot.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day.
Larry
Very good post.
I was here for 13 years when the elders devised a sabbatical policy for the pastors of our church. They granted me a 13 week sabbatical, which I partially used for getting work done on my doctorate.
It was an incredibly refreshing time and I came back energized in a way that is indescribable. I think your last point about viewing the sabbatical as an affirmation is very weighty. It told me the elders and congregation wanted me to be healthy and content. It told me the wanted me to stay a while. It’s true, we have no “off” switch, it’s impossible. Unless you’ve done it, it’s hard to explain.
I’m 17 years in at the same church I came to out of seminary. The sabbatical served almost as a reset button. I’m as excited about the future as I was early on.
My church blessed me with a 90 day sabbatical after 5 years of service. Your article is spot on. I had some difficulties in my 4th year and looking forward to the sabbatical kept me going. Since my return, I feel that my preaching and my ministry have gotten stronger.
Pastors need time for uninterrupted study of material not specifically related to a sermon or a SS lesson. Most of us have stacks of books we’d like to read (need to read) but do not have time to do so. 🙂
Another helpful post from a friend of pastors and churches alike.
Thank you Caleb. Your last sentence is a great encouragement to me.
Thom,
I noticed during my time as a Director of Missions that many congregations have a fear that their Pastor will leave shortly after the sabbatical is complete. This fear is just that, anxiety based on very little fact. While it is true that any person who takes a concentrated time before the Lord may make changes in their life, sabbaticals alone do not encourage a pastor to leave. I worked with congregations who were truly afraid their Pastor would leave them if they gave him more than a two week vacation. Pastors need these times of rest.
That’s a good word from experience. Thanks David.
A few years ago, as a deacon in my church, I championed the idea of a sabbatical for our pastor and the rest of the church agreed. We gave him a full month off an I think it did wonderful things in his life and the life of his family and the short time was good for our church as well. I think the idea is a necessary one, though the specifics could differ from one instance to another.
Thank for a balanced response Brian.
We need to look to the Catholic church for this model. A month or two in my mind is NOT a sabbatical. A real sabbatical allows a pastor to do what (s)he does not have time nor resources to do otherwise for self enrichment and advancement. Catholic priests get ONE YEAR OFF every seven years! Unfortunately most of us don’t have the proper systems in place for our churches to run effectively for a year without us. I attend conferences, seminars, theological intensive, etc, take holiday breaks, weekly days off, and a month long vacation every summer but NONE of these can be considered as a real sabbatical!
I have a problem with the word sabbatical in relationship to pastoring. I’m the child of an old school pastor who took time for biblical studies, travels and spiritual enrichment, but always put the support of his congregation and the community at large first. That’s the nature of the commitment. Jesus never took a sabbatical. I think pastors should take vacations and make time to fortify themselves, but always maintain connected and leaders over their flock. I also think if the pastor has a strong support system: associated ministers, deacons, trustees, business managers, etc., they should not have to wear themselves out to the point they need to be away from the church and out of touch for extended periods.
Jesus also didn’t stay at one church or have a home for his three year ministry after which he was crucified. Also he was God. Not all churches and ministries are alike and I think a Sabbatical can be great say for a pastor that is the only pastor of his church.
But Jesus was the teacher and not managing church structures and dealing with management.
This might work if every pastor were the same.
But, actually, I recall a few times in the New Testament where Jesus left even his disciples seemingly to take a break (remember when he told them to cross the lake without him and then the storm came up?) I wish God called perfect people to be ministers but unfortunately, as with church members, it seems God calls people like you and me who have our own needs and shortcomings…
Our church gives our pastor a sabbatical every year. He gets the whole month of July off to do whatever he wants/needs to do. I cannot tell you what a blessing this is for our pastor AND our church. We dearly love our pastor and he continues to care for his flock during this absence by putting guest preachers in his pulpit that we continue to learn from while the pastor is recharging and participating in other ministries that he cares about. The church always anticipates his return and we benefit from a rested and studied servant. The sabbatical is an expression of love that goes both ways, from the congregation to the pastor and then back from him to us. I cannot imagine not giving this wonderful gift to our pastor who so selflessly shepherds us all year long.
Pam, as a pastor, I cannot express enough how awesome you and your church family must make your pastor feel. What a blessing you people are, to him and to so many who have read this.
My church personnel policy includes sabbaticals. I’ve had two so far and anticipate a third before I retire. And I just started my 24th year at this church.
Last year I took a so called sabbatical. It was the worst experience in over 35 years of ministry! While I was gone for almost 2 months some people used that time to talk behind my back, discussed my every weakness ( both real and imagined) slandered my wife and I etc. if you take one, watch your back brother!
Well look at this way after all those years there now you know for sure where the hearts of the people! There hearts aren’t towards the things of God nor for the best interest of your personal growth in the Lord either. The sabbaitcal revealed the truth you didn’t see before.