I grew up in academia; that complex, thought-provoking community that exists around every research oriented university.  In 1979, my father had been serving as a professor at the University of South Carolina when he was named as a Fulbright Scholar and was granted a year’s sabbatical to teach and conduct research at a university in Taipei, Taiwan.  In the academic world, the term sabbatical has come to mean a break in one’s career with the goal of achieving something new.  Our year there was full of adventure and trial.  It was also full of adults who couldn’t resist touching the mouse-brown hair of a child who looked so different from their own.  That year, one of the “new” things I learned was the personal space to which I had grown accustomed in the States, did not exist in Taiwan.

More literally, sabbatical means to cease or to rest.  Many churches provide sabbatical time for their pastoral staff.  This benefit is normally granted after several years of service to the church, lasts from a couple of weeks to more than a month and is designed to provide a time of renewal and rest.  The following are written guidelines from three different churches.

• After ten years of continuous satisfactory service, sabbatical leave may be granted to a staff member with the length of the sabbatical to be determined at the time of consideration.  This will be considered non-chargeable leave with pay.

• Pastoral staff employees will be eligible for up to one month of sabbatical/study leave, with full pay, after each 10 years of continuous service.  Written requests must be submitted at least 3 months in advance and are subject to the approval of the Senior Pastor and the Executive Pastor.

• The pastor shall be granted a sabbatical leave for a period of four to six weeks after five consecutive years and at five-year intervals thereafter.  The purpose of such sabbatical leave shall be for physical, spiritual and mental self-renewal and refreshment.

However, there’s an idea that I like even better.  It’s a concept that can be used in conjunction with the traditional sabbatical policy.  My home church has recently implemented a required sabbatical day to be taken once each month by every pastor on staff.  It is to be taken during a regularly scheduled work day.  It is neither vacation time nor time to be used visiting with friends and family.  Their document states, “Rather it is a time of refilling and refreshing alone with the Lord.”  What a great concept. 

If you would like to read a copy of this policy, they have generously offered it for all who are interested.  Email me and I’ll send it to you.

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