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Time Out!
Posted by Guest Author in Baptist Life, Church & Missions
Our guest writer today is Taran, a frequent commenter and participant in Baptist blogs.
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As a member of an educational institution, I have observed the positive effects of sabbaticals throughout my academic career. Six months or a year off away from administrative and faculty demands can provide tremendous benefit for any faculty member. They don’t have to deal with the intense pressures of composing lectures, grading papers, or interacting with students.
But I find myself wondering, what if they if they had a real job…like pastors.
It has become commonly understood and widely accepted that the pastorate can be one of the most demanding jobs in our society. Pastors and their families are under tremendous pressures to which few outside the goldfish bowl can relate. Given the statistics on pastoral burn out (not to mention turnover) clearly pastors could use additional time “off the clock.” A season when they are accountable to no one but the Lord for how they use their time.
The pastoral clock runs faster than any other. The detailed plans for constructing sermons and bible studies we were given in our seminary hermeneutics and preaching classes are often the first to go once the time-crunch of actually serving as pastor hits. Many pastors are unable to continue their study beyond their preparation for public teaching. Further, with no continuing education requirement for pastors, personal time for ongoing education becomes less and less a priority for many.
I propose that we need to retake the concept of a sabbatical rest from academia.
The necessity of rests well attested to in scripture. We find its roots in the creation account of Genesis 2, codified in the fourth commandment to rest on the seventh day. This is a time when we are commanded to turn our attention away from our daily distractions and refocus on our relationship with God. Later the ground was to be given a period of time for sabbaticals, and even Jesus took time to be away from the demands of his public ministry for periods of renewal and prayer.
Both pastors and churches can benefit from a sabbatical.
Why pastors benefit from sabbaticals:
- As noted above, rest and recreation are necessary.
- It is an opportunity to pursue further research and writing (even, dare I say, blogging?). Oftentimes vacations are primarily spent with family (as they should be) and there is not time for detailed study and meditation.
- By visiting other places of worship, pastors can get a good understanding of a wide variety of worship experiences that might provide a creative stimulation in their own work.
- We need reminders that God’s work doesn’t solely depend upon us. The life of the church continues even in our absence.
Certainly most who read this blog will see how the pastor benefits from a timely sabbatical. But I would submit that churches also benefit a pastoral sabbatical in several ways.
- Most apparently, they receive a refreshed and reenergized pastor at the end of the process.
- The church gets to experience different preaching styles and a different dynamic in the worship service.
- It serves as an important reminder that the existence of the church is not based on the presence of a pastor.
- Let’s be frank. It is a relatively inexpensive way to reward to a pastor for his time of service. If other staff and lay leadership can assume temporary responsibility for pastoral duties, then the out of cost expense to the church is relatively small.
Sabbaticals could be a richly deserved time for rest, relaxation, and personal reflection. My hope is that they will become more widely accepted among Southern Baptist congregations.
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Another benefit of having an elder led congregation. One can take some time off to refresh and recharge and the Body continues to grow, love, serve, and make disciples.
While I have always appreciated the sporadic articles that seek to encourage churches to give their pastors sabbaticals, implementing such a policy is the longest of long shots in the average SBC church. Some large churches have done so, good for them and their pastors, but the reality is that such an opportunity is extremely remote for the rest of us.
I do appreciate, though, an academic speaking of us as having a “real job.”
What William said.
Rob
Most Churches would never like their Pastor being gone for a long period of time. Even now, most Churches that I know about begrudgingly give their Pastors 2 weeks of vacation, and they dont like him to take that all at one time. And, 3 weeks!!! Uh-uh, no way. That would mean him having too much time off. After all, me, or someone in my family might go to the hospital, or maybe even die; and we need the Pastor be close by.
I have taken vacation before, and I’ve heard people complain about taking too much time off!!!! When I work 50 to 60 hours per week, every week; and I’m on call 24/7, get calls on my days off concerning Church business and spiritual matters of members, and work on my days off every so often due to a death, critical time in hospital for a member, or a special event in the Church….like this Saturday we’re having our Easter drama/musical. Also, there was one stretch, while I was Pastoring in MS, when I went 6 weeks without a day off. Yet, if I’ve been in the ministry for 29 years, three weeks per year vacation is too much time off.
I know Churches, and I know Church people; and you wont find too many Churches out there that would let a Pastor take a sabbatical.
David
I think at the very least pastors should be able to take a vacation of two or three weeks a year, just like everybody else. During that time they should turn off their cellphone. Maybe they should go to the mountains or the beach or wherever so they can “get away”.
I don’t have any problems with pastors taking a sabbatical but that could be viewed as “elitist” by many church members. After all, very very few people in society have sabbaticals from their work. College professors are about the only profession I can think of who have them.
I do recall that a the senior pastor at a church in my hometown of Downey Calif took a sabatical. It was “sponsored” by some foundation I think. During his time away he did some type of advanced study — I’m not sure exactly what the study was — maybe it was a DMin.
William and Volfan raise the million dollar question: “How do I get the church to go along with the idea of a sabbatical?” It is tough for the pastor to initiate this idea because he has such a strong interest in the situation. I’ve been mulling over this very question for a follow up post. I do have a couple of quick ideas and would appreciate any additional suggestions:
1. The best time to address a sabbatical is when the pastoral candidate is initially talking to the church.
2. Use external sources to convey this information. Frankly, one reason why I’m posting this at SBCImpact is that more lay people will read it than if I post it at my own blog. Associational Missionaries, State Convention employees, seminary, and college professors can each address this when they fill the pulpit. State newspapers (while they are still around
also have a role to play.
3. Plant the seed when discussing any other compensation issues with the personnel committee.
4. Always frame the discussion in terms of how it will help the church. A rejuvenated, more focused pastor brings greater benefits than costs to the church.
Thank you, Taran, for the post. Thanks for recognizing the labors of the pastors.
In your area, does sabbatical leave get awarded after a certain number of years, as needed, or both? How and who decides it is time for a sabbatical?
PS- I forwarded this post to the chair of our personnel team. I will let you know how it turns out
Blessings,
Zach
Roger,
You raise several excellent points. There are many pastors I know who hate the thought of being out of contact with the church for even day, much less seven weeks. Clearly a workaholic personality grates at the thought of being away. Since I want to address other concerns, let me say only that it’s still in their best interests to take a break. I would also add that a pastor who assumes the church cannot function in his absence might also have other problems: namely poor administrative abilities or a too highly elevated view of himself.
You raise another point about the charge of elitism (or as a friend at my home church put it to me “Isn’t that what the Methodists do?”). Elitism exists when a select group is engaged in a certain behavior. The more churches that begin to offer sabbaticals, the less elitist they become.
While it’s true that few other professions offer sabbaticals, the 24/7 demands of the pastoral ministry make it a unique vocation. (A fact we already recognize, for example few other vocations offer housing allowances either). Sabbaticals began in the church. I see no reason to leave them to the academic world.
Brother John Daly,
You hit truth squarely in the face with your comment. The SBC has been coaxed into believing that “a” Pastor is a “professional job”…when it actually is a “labor of love”. Seminaries are their own worst enemies in the respect that they cater to the Pastor as a singular professional and then it becomes fashionable for the congregation to accept and soon believe that seminaries birth Pastors. So seminaries in many ways are part of the problem….even though some provide outstanding opportunities to learn from gifted and respected men and women.
When a church follows the command of God and appoints Elders in the churches, then this burnout excuse is seen for what it is….an excuse. Ministry is tough and will always be an uphill battle,…so the faint of heart need not apply or aspire to leadership. Too many times the Pastor’s that have not counted the cost are the loudest to complain and want some time off. But, as Paul told Timothy and Titus,…appoint Elders so that the ministry will continue….this exposes the lazy complaining Pastor so that he may get the message of how God has designed the church and move from an excuser to one that presses on toward the goal.
Sabbaticals seems to imply….this work is too hard, etc. If you want a Sabbatical,..allow the other Elders to lead and minister to you while you refuel the tanks. But official Sabbaticals soon become like other things that some seminaries have come to teach like how churches should not have a plurality of leadership. If a Pastor/Elder wants to be recognized for what he is doing… he is in the wrong business.
2 Corinthians 12:9-11 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (10) Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (11) I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.”
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 “Are they servants of Christ?–I speak as if insane–I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. (24) Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. (25) Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. (26) I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; (27) I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (28) Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”
Leaders in the church need less Sabbaticals and more resolve!
Blessings,
Chris
Zach,
By my area do you mean at my university, or at my home church? At my university, the rule of thumb is that they may be taken after seven years of work. But if you have a particular research task lined up (e.g. a book contract) then they may be applied for at any time. The chairman of your department, the Dean of your college, then the Provost of the university each has to sign off on the request. Then it goes to the president and Board of Regents for approval.
In my home church, we gave our pastor a seven week sabbatical on his tenth anniversary. Had I been a member of the church on his fifth anniversary, I would have asked the personnel committee for one then as well. I mentioned the idea to a special committee looking at ways to celebrate his anniversary. Then we raised it with the personnel committee. They signed off on it and we presented it to the church. The church was thrilled with the idea and glad to do it.
Email me if you or your personnel chair have any specific questions.
There have been comments here on sbcImpact and other SBC blogs from time to time from pastors who say they don’t even discuss their pay package prior to accepting a call to a church. They believe that they should seek the Lord’s will in coming to a new congregation and trust on the Lord to provide.
Also, there have comments from pastors who say that they set as a goal to not live “extravagant” lifestyles with big houses in gated communities and fancy cars, but instead have a lifestyle that is consistent with the “median” lifestyle where they serve. Given that the “average Joe” in the pew doesn’t have a sabbatical then some pastors would not ask for or expect them.
To the extent that it is the case that people don’t even discuss their basic compensation package then it is extreemely unlikely that there will be any discussion of a sabbatical.
I don’t know this as a result of any “scientific” sampling, but I would say that the number of pastors having a plan for a sabattical at the church where they serve is probably one in a hundred. Another problem mitigating against sabbaticals is that supposedly they are “earned” based upon years of service (such as seven years or more) and the “average” term for a pastor is around four years.
Setting aside pastors for a moment, how common is it for professors at the six SBC seminaries to have sabbaticals? Also how common is it for professors at Baptist schools, such as OBU, to have sabbaticals?
I worked for the same employer in Silicon Valley for 30+ years. As a general rule people to never took anything like sabbaticals. However, it was common for engineers and scientists to pursue advanced degrees while working. The company would pay for books and tuition. I received my MBA from the University of Santa Clara this way. The total value of the support that I received from the company would be somewhere in the range of $50,000 to $100,000 if I were to go back and tally it up. Management would be flexible in allowing time (such as one afternoon a week or leaving at 2pm a couple of times a week) to accomodate school. That would probably be made up over time when we worked 60+ hour weeks when trying to get the next product out the door.
I knew a pastor who came to lead a small church in Michigan after working with much larger churches in the South. In the larger churches, since the pastor had so many congregants, visitation and hospital visits usually fell to the deacons and/or Sunday school leaders. By assuming that’s how it worked in Michigan, things got off to a bad start with the elderly folks in the church, and thought he fought hard (believe me, he did), he ended up leaving after six years, making him the longest-tenured pastor at that church in a long time.
I think the biblical role of deacons is much ignored in smaller churches (at least, in my experience). They often act as some type of Board of Directors (practically elders). Pastors need their deacons and Sunday school teachers to take a bigger role in the health and welfare of the church. If they are qualified to teach and serve, the congregation should feel comfortable being taught and served by them through visitation, counseling, and the like. That transition has to happen first or there is no way a traditional-minded church is going to like the idea of a sabbatical. Thoughts?
At the SBC church in Texas where I grew up, we had a pastor for awhile who liked skiing. Every time any group went to Glorieta or anyplace with snow, you could bet he was along for the trip. Youth, single adults, senior citizens, whatever. I don’t know if they counted it as vacation or not, but he spent a lot of time away from the pulpit. A few people grumbled about it.
After a few years of this, lo and behold, God called him to pastor a church in Colorado! Truly a miracle. The next pastor stuck closer to home.
Brother Taran,
Since seminary is truly a supplemental exercise for pastors, teachers, and others,… and the church is the instrumental foundation for truth and living, there is little need for this concept of extended sabbaticals.
God has already instituted the sabbatical on a weekly basis. I am fairly confident that there is not scriptural support beyond a weekly Sabbath that supports this call for an extended sabbatical.
I do appreciate you bringing this subject forward, and I came on a bit strong earlier,….but isn’t this an academic model piggybacking on the notion of the Sabbath day and the irritation of having to work long hours by some Pastors or some Pastors just wanting to do something different, like write a book? Is there any scripture that indicates this is something practiced as a benefit for the church?
I might suggest that guys that are called to Pastor / Elder the churches not take any money from the fellowship and see if you would stay in the ministry. If that puts too much pressure on you …then you might be in the wrong line of work. Being worthy of double honor extends way beyond money!
Blessings,
Chris
Brother Patrick,
Outstanding story… the epitomy of contextualization on the “cool” side.
Priceless,
-Chris
Chris,
I appreciate your impassioned, relentless call for elder led congregations. I do have a couple of thoughts about your responses. In my experience, few of the men I know in the ministry would deserve your characterization as a “lazy complaining Pastor.” But perhaps your experience has been otherwise. Some of my pastoral friends have expressed feeling of stress and burn out to me, but wouldn’t dare mention it to their church or personnel committee. Frankly, they hesitate because they would fear a response like you have given in your note to John: that their stresses and burn out are merely an excuse.
You also make several references to the sabbatical as an importation from the University (you also make frequent mention of seminaries). As I (apparently poorly) wrote in the original post, the influence ran in the other direction. The idea of sabbatical was taken from the church. The university has merely seen its benefit. The church should retake this concept.
The Sabbatical is clearly attested to in the Scriptures (the land, animals, and people were to rest at various times), so I assume you are specifically asking about a time of leave for the lead Pastor/Elder of the church. The short answer is that a Sabbatical falls into the same category of a variety of expressions of the affection a congregation has for their Pastor. Paul doesn’t mention Sabbaticals to Timothy, but neither does he mention mileage reimbursements, housing allowances, or banana pudding (mmmmm…banana pudding). None of these are off limits as gifts to pastors because they’re not found in the pastoral epistles. Neither are sabbaticals.
Chris, several times you have returned to finances and compensation for the pastor and even questioned the dedication of a pastor based on whether or not they would be willing to forego compensation. I would submit to you that every pastor I know works MORE than they are compensated for. Not less. For them, dinner at the home of a church member counts as time away from work (it shouldn’t). And a Saturday off means only three hours in the office instead of eight.
But primarily I don’t see sabbaticals as a sign of compensation, I see them as a gift. The point isn’t recognition (as you mention above) but appreciation expressed by the church in as creative a way as possible. It is about the love of the congregation for its pastor overflowing to the point of giving him something far more valuable than money: extended time for which he is not accountable to the church.
What would a pastor due with that much time off? A few thoughts come to mind. He could rest, rest, rest, then rest some more. He could attend a wide variety of worship services in other congregations. He could write a book (Some books do actually help the local church;) Paul, for one, considered writing part of his pastoral duties. He could study. He could spend time with his family. He could work on his hobby. He could seek God’s vision for his church. The point is, he could a wide number of things, all things that would ultimately contribute to the well being of the church.
Lastly, although you have expressed a strong disagreement with the concept of sabbaticals perhaps others who read our conversation from other church leadership contexts will find value in it. I thank you again Chris for your feedback to, and shaping of, my thoughts on this matter.
Roger,
I’ve seen some of the same comments, that some candidates don’t discuss finances with their church. I would respectfully disagree with that approach, but only because I think that the church and pastor are each best served when all expectations are laid out on the table. Money should be no more a sacred cow than any other topic in the church.
As to your question about sabbaticals at the seminaries and Baptist colleges, that varies tremendously. Some schools have a very rigorously defined set of criteria for their sabbaticals, others do not. Southwestern (my alma mater) has sabbaticals, and I would be quite surprised if the other five did not. OBU (I assume you mean Oklahoma Baptist, not Ouachita Baptist) does offer sabbaticals.
I think sabbaticals have a unique role in Baptist seminaries and colleges. There, they can help faculty get back into church life by spending a lot of time working directly with pastors and getting out of the ivory tower.
Lastly, your story about your time in Silicon Valley offers another example of why they are a good idea. They provide educational opportunities that are incompatible with a typical pastor’s work week.
Brother Taran,
Thank you for you kind response. I hope in my sorta rant…that I did not communicate the wrong thing.
It is without a doubt that a man of God has the highest work in creation, and by his remaining qualified, this man works at least as hard and sometimes well beyond anyone I know. So, I do not want to confuse hard work, even against the presentation of a gift from the fellowship to the Pastor/Elder. In fact, it should be the response of a maturing flock to love that Pastor/Elder beyond the natural.
Hebrews 13:15-19 “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. (16) And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (17) Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. (18) Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. (19) And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.”
The fellowship must learn to allow the Pastor to lead with joy, not grief…while understanding what is profitable. That comes through discipleship.
You have rightly said,…I do ring the plurality of Leadership (Pastor/Elder) bell a lot. I have come to find that this is an important truth given to us by Paul that is quickly ignored,.. especially since it is not taken seriously in much of the SBC.
Financial compensation is a whole other matter…and would be a good blog subject. I have chosen not to receive compensation from the fellowship….and, I have nothing against it as well and may receive it in the future….but during my last 25 years in ministry I have elected not to be paid anything at all. I’m certainly not independently wealthy. It is not easy, but it can be done.
Why is it that the Pastor should “ask or expect” from the congregation a Sabbatical, since that is the term being used, since it is in his prerogative to make that decision anyway?
Thank you again,… the subject is an interesting one.
Blessings,
Chris
Brother Chris,
As I review our conversation, I think we share a passion for serving the Lord and building up the church to the best of our ability. We each see the role of the Pastor/Lead Elder as essential to a healthy church. Finally, we both view this role as a vocation, not a profession. Any differences we may have are secondary to these areas of agreement.
I thank God that you are called not to accept compensation for your efforts. I know that you and your family will be richly rewarded for your faithfulness to His calling. But I would be unwilling to make that calling prescriptive to other Pastors/Elders. If a person is called (as are you) to set aside compensation, then I trust they will be obedient to that calling. But I would not hold it up as a better or more worthy calling than one who is called to a church and called to take compensation for the purpose of supporting his family.
Lastly (and we may be bumping up against one another’s ecclesiology here), I don’t believe that it is the pastor/elder’s call to decide whether or not he receives a sabbatical. He can certainly request one, but the decision to receive a sabbatical is ultimately up to the congregation he is called to serve.
But he’s completely within his rights to demand banana pudding.
Brother Taran,
I like banana pudding btw….
Again, I want to be crystal clear. I believe that Pastor/Elders should be the best remunerated men on the planet. My situation is self inflicted and I am not saying that scripture is prescriptive to not receiving money from the fellowship. In fact, it is Paul that said,… he deserved to get paid. Not sure how much he may have received…. but, He probably liked banana pudding too.
I am still unsure why a Pastor/Elder can’t choose to eat banana pudding and take some time away from his congregation as well… of his own choosing.
Thanks again for allowing me to vent a bit….
Blessings,
Chris
Chris:
Of course you can take a sabbatical anytime you want because you are what some would call “bi-vocational”. In that situation you are not being paid as a full time pastor (in your case not being paid at all) so it is “understood” that your duties as a pastor are shared with other occupations or activities.
Brother Roger,
That is a good point and does help our congregation to understand how ministry gets done. None of our Pastor/Elders are paid. Again, that is not to say we have a problem with remunerating a man working in the fellowship. But, in a many ways you are right concerning how the congregation allows us to lead them being indicative of their understanding of the work of a shepherd.
For instance, I get money for working in Information Technology,…another Pastor works in the office of the Attorney General as an auditor…while another is an attorney working on his own. All the men are biblically qualified and are allowed to lead by those of the congregation as their Pastor/Elders. The congregation does make it a joy for us to lead and that is a great blessing.
It’s not all rosy though…. When just a few months back a man was removed from our fellowship (and his wife, not being the one coming against the fellowship certainly remains with him)….. These type of things are never easy,…and I will share with everyone in a future post, God willing, how this was done in our fellowship.
I have always seen ministry as a full time endeavor, where everyone in the fellowship is ministering to one another whether they are making money enought money to put food on the table or not. If someone can’t put food on the table, we help them….unless of course they don’t want to work, then that’s a different matter.
Just thinking about banana pudding is making me hungry
Blessings,
Chris
Chris,
The Apostle Paul had something to say about Churches taking care of thier Ministers in 2Corinthians 11:8-9…”I robbed other Churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and lacked, I was chargeable to no man; for that which was lacking to me the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied; and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.”
Also, I Corinthians 9:14…”Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”
Chris, all of us poor, lazy preachers out here, who are living on the financial support of our Churches are out here sacrificing and doing without and working long hours…although we’re lazy…for the Gospel of Jesus and to shepherd the flocks that God made us overseers of.
Poor, lazy, overpaid,
David
PS. Chris, most of the Bi-Vocational Ministers that I know cant get everything done in a week that needs to be done. It’s been my experience that BiVo Ministers either cant study for sermons like they should, or else they cant visit like they should, or else their family doesnt see them very much. But, something hurts due to the poor fella having to work so much. And, Chris, in many, many Churches out here in Southern Baptist land, they are too small to have a bunch of Elders. They dont have enough men to meet the qualifications of an Elder. And, there are some men, who meet the qualifications, but refuse to serve in that capacity….for a number of different reasons. Thus, many BiVo Ministers dont have other Elders to help them. But, Chris, please dont berate all of us who have Churches that are able to supply financial support for us so that we can devote full time to the ministry. I personally thank God that I dont have to kill myself trying to work a part time job, or a full time job, on top of being an Elder in my Church. I’ve been there and done that, and it nearly killed me. I didnt get much sleep back then. Uh oh….it may sound like I’m complaining due to my lazy, overpaid attitude. I hope not, but I’m just not a super Saint like you. I’m just a regular ole fella that the Lord saved and called to preach. So, forgive me for my shortcomings.
Brother David,
I’m just an average Joe,…..not anything special. Also, if a man is lazy he does not qualify to Lead in the first place. So…I don’t think you want to be in that category….and your right, complaining is many times just an outcome of laziness. My son(age 14) has that problem at times….which we try to correct.
If you read through the posts I have made, you will find that I think men of God that lead the church should be the best paid and as Paul has stated and you have echoed, is certainly worthy to be paid.
So my point is not that men do not deserve to get paid or that I am a super Saint (a saint nonetheless)…because getting support from the church is a positive biblical conclusion of which a Pastor is worthy. What I am saying though,…if you want to take a sabbatical, then take one.
What I have heard so far,…is that it will take a vote for a guy to take some time off….. but if the Pastor is not honest with his flock and then expects them to read his mind or is scared they will get the wrong message if he said he is tired and needs a recharging….then is sounds like a deeper issue.
Blessings,
Chris
Brother Vol,
Our fellowship is about 40 people. We have three qualified Elders and agressively teaching and praying for God to provide many more as he has done in so many other churches. Having a small church (new plant for us) is a relative term for many in the field, but we would probably be considered small by most accounts.
Blessings,
Chris
A late, stray note on this subject:
I have never hesitated to discuss salary, pastorium-related issues that involve loss of equity in a home, retirement, vacation, social security offsets, and health insurance matters with a church or search committee because virtually every one of those individuals deals with the same things. Raising the issue of a prolonged absence from work would be something that none of them has experienced. To bring that up in the pastor search process would be imprudent.
Churches that have a good relationship with their pastor are willing to accommodate additional study, occasional extra time for mission trips and the like. Sabbaticals are elitist in that the pastor would be receiving something his members have no hope to ever receive – extended time away from a job for personal development or whatever.
Brother Taran,
After reading through your post once again, I do sense your heart of compassion for the man of God and that he be rested so that the church overall can benefit from God’s call on his life. So, please know that I am not taking a swat at that loving spirit,…because after all that is what we would all hope the congregation might understand about its leadership.
Being raised Southern Baptist for my entire adult life and working in the church since about age sixteen, I became desensitized early on as I saw Pastors often looking for excuses. It is very possible that I was working inside a fishbowl and that of all the Pastors I met ..the ten men complaining were the only ten men in the SBC that were complaining….but, I might be wrong and there may be more than ten that are tired and hoping someone will come to their rescue or just leave them alone.
Your article has helped me affirm several things,
1. That a man of God does need to have order and rest in his life to be an effective leader.
2. A man of God, certainly not being perfect or “super-Saint” as Vol has espoused, may need a nudge from someone or a few in the congregation to evaluate some time off…. That’s not a bad thing at all, and hopefully he has some men to hold him accountable in this way.
3. That Christ instructed his disciples to rest (Mark)…. probably for just the night or to escape from the masses, but nonetheless our Savior saw an importance to being rested.
4. That the Pastor should teach of this need early on with the congregation and other Pastors in the fellowship, so that later on it does not result in wrong implications about his resolve and character as a man of God.
Its not an easy life,…the life of a man of God leading the church and could end in early death. Counting the cost is important! Ignoring the call is even worse. May the men of God be resolved to lead and feed the sheep.
Philippians 3:7-11 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (8) More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (9) and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, (10) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; (11) in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Thank you again for the post,…
Blessings,
Chris
William,
I think we’re on the same page as far as initial discussions with the search committee. But I don’t think it would be that difficult to ask if the church has a policy for sabbatical leave. And if they’ve never heard of one, you could spark some investigation on their part.
I think I’ve addressed most of the points you raised earlier on and will not rehash them here. But I do want to address one more that you mention: elitism charge.
Maybe it is because of its association with academia, but I fail to see how this is elitist. So let me first note (again) that the concept of a sabbatical is a biblical term, taken over and appropriated by the University. What I’m suggesting is for a restoration of that term to its proper context.
Your basis for the charge of elitism is that “the pastor would be receiving something his members have no hope to ever receive”. Two quick thoughts. First, as a member of a congregation who loves its pastor, I want to express that love to him any way that we can. Because of that fact, I may be willing to give him something that I’ve never received myself. Second, why would a church want to limit itself to what the world offers?! I’ve had many secular jobs, but I’ve never received a pounding at any of them. I’ve had many jobs, but never received a housing allowance at any of them. I’ve had many jobs, but never been the recipient of a money tree at any of them. (Full disclosure: as an Intentional Interim I’ve received all three of these. Plus banana pudding). Merely because the business world doesn’t acknowledge the benefit of these things, why would I then reject any of these for my pastor?
Four weeks at a pastor’s fifth anniversary (for example) and eight weeks at his tenth seems a reasonable (and cheap!) gift to the pastor.
Chris,
Amen and Amen! I could not agree more. Thank you again for the conversation and may God continue to bless you and your ministry.
Taran:
At least for me, and maybe for others, there is confusion regarding what the term “sabbatical” means. I have always understood the term to apply to extended time away from daily operations — such as six months to a year. You apply the term to an occasional vacation of four to eight weeks.
Given your definition of what a “sabbatical” is, then I retract my statement that a sabbatical is “elitest” for pastors. To me taking four weeks at five years and eight weeks at ten years is not a “sabbatical” — just an extended vacation on certain anniversary years. Vacations like this are somewhat “common” in industry.
I’m real late to this discussion – and a deacon at that.
Our church has one of the hardest working people that I have ever met as our pastor. He is a great student and expositor, spends many hours visiting and “doing” ministry – not just locked up in his office. He goes to camp with our pre teens, works in VBS and spends time with the youth and senior adults.
We worry that we will burn him out. As a result we encourage him to take a full weekend off every six weeks or so. We put money in the budget for substitutes to fill the pulpit when he does take off. We also protect his fridays and unless it is a true emergency a deacon or other staff member will get the call.
After six years at our church we gave him a three week sabatical that was in addition to his vacation, we also raised money to send him on an extended mission trip (his choice) for his sabbatical.
Roger,
I take full responsibility for any confusion. I think that few churches are in a position where they could offer their pastor a sabbatical of either a year or six months duration (the typical options in the academic world).
I think four weeks after five years and eight after ten would be reasonable. Just to be clear, this would be in addition to any vacation time they already had. I have no problem with using the term vacation.
Jim,
Your pastor is quite blessed to have such a caring congregation. Although I certainly believe that the pastor is called to minister to the congregation, I believe equally strongly that the congregation is called to minister to the pastor. It’s nice to see your church honoring that calling.
This post is very late to the discussion, but I couldn’t resist passing on this information since no one else passed it on.
Pastors need sabbaticals and rest. Period. For those of you ready, but you or your church don’t have the financial means, check out the incredible Lilly Endowment program for pastoral renewal. http://www.lillyendowment.org/religion_ncr.html
Several of my mentors in ministry took advantage of this and God used it to rejuvenate their ministry and the church even grew while they took advantage of it.
A great resource John. Thanks.
Providing sabbaticals to rejuvenate, keep and attract talent is a business decision. Our research indicates that some companies have had their sabbatical programs for many years (McDonald’s is in the top spot- 40 years). The list of Companies on a Quest now numbers over 80 and the concept is gaining wide visibility (meaning the list is growing.)
More important, the younger generations aren’t tolerating the “all work-little time left for life” mentality that fueled so many boomers. I can only assume that churches are looking ahead to the talent pool and want to make decisions that are good for their future.