WHAT IS A SABBATICAL?

So I'm almost ready to start my sabbatical. But the burning question that everyone asks is simply this: what exactly is a sabbatical? It sounds like one long vacation where you get paid for doing nothing. I suppose every Pastor going on a sabbatical has to "defend" the fact that this isn't just a extended vacation, but something that is necessary and beneficial for any congregation.

That need to defend probably is because churches have not taught the necessity of a balanced rhythm in life. We hear the words sabbatical and we think old testament law and throw it away. But even though we are not bound by the law anymore, the principle that God gave at creation of taking a break is a utmost importance, especially in our fast paced world of constant burnout.

So before I tackle the initial question, let me step back a bit and ask a more foundational question. Is a sabbatical biblical?

The word 'sabbatical' is rooted in the Hebrew word Shabbat (שָׁבַת) and there's a lot of biblical tradition surrounding the use of that word. The most obvious is the practice of a sabbath day described initially in Genesis chapter one. God rested (יִּשְׁבֹּת) on the seventh day and tells his people to have a weekly observance of Sabbath to develop a rhythm of life that would help us balance our lives in both our bodies, minds, and spiritual lives.

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The Sabbath was made for a humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath;

so the son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath. Mark 2:27–28.

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Additionally, in Leviticus 25, God commands that the land, lie fallow every seven years. Even the land needed a sabbatical to recover from the yearly rotation of harvesting crops to replenish the nutrients in the soil. In the same way, Leviticus 25 also talks about the Year of Jubilee - every 50 years a big celebration happens where there is no harvest or producing of anything, but rather debts are forgiven and offerings are made to God.

So biblically, Sabbath in all it's forms, has the idea of rest, rejuvenation, renewal and celebration. These things, for a time, take the place of hard work and production.

Marva Dawn in her book Keeping the Sabbath Wholly says:

"We cease not only from work itself, but also from the need to accomplish and be productive, from the worry and tension that accompany our modern criterion of efficiency, from our efforts to be in control of our lives, as if we were God, from a possessiveness and our enculturation, and finally, from the humdrum and meaninglessness that result when life is pursued without the Lord at the center of it all."

So what is a sabbatical? It can take many forms as long as those key biblical ideas are part of the process. So here is a stab at a definition of sabbatical at least for me.

A sabbatical is an extended period of time away offered to leaders of a church in order to equip both the leader and the church for the next season of ministry. This is done, not only by enhancing a leader skills, but also by providing a space away from the "tyranny of the urgent" for spiritual renewal, rest, celebration, study in order to reconnect on a personal (rather than professional) level with God and influential people in the pastor's life.

So you can call it an extended study leave, a renewal leave, a refresher leave. Call it what you want, but the benefit of a sabbatical, especially for a pastor, is to remove oneself from the busyness of life since our job often entails living without any margins at all so that we can practice the sabbatical disciplines of rest, rejuvenation, renewal, and celebration. This short-term sabbatical and the regular practice of Sabbath rhythm of life, can help prepare the pastor for a long-term ministry rather than short-term career burnout.

So what are some of the things I may be doing? This list is not exhaustive nor is it set in stone, but will give you an idea of what my time away might look like

Study and Continuing Education

• Reading books primarily on self care and long term ministry

• Going to Athens, Ephesus and Corinth to strengthen my faith in its historical roots.

• Beginning to write a book or study guide on a relevant topic that comes from initial things I learn.

Personal Rest

• Reading, praying and pursuing spiritual disciplines to deepen my own faith.

• Relearning self care: talking with mentors and counselors. exercise, including backpacking for an extended time.

• Road trip to re-connect with old friends and ministry partners

Rejuvenation and Celebration

• Devoting more time to my wife including time away.

• Attending worship services in a variety of plavces to expand my understanding of worship, church and family.

• Celebrating my 40th Anniversary with a trip with my wife.

Renewal

• Rediscover Spiritual Disciplines that feed my relationaship with Jesus. Especially the discipline of reading the Scriptures Devotionally (Instead of for study or sermon prep.)

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How can the church family help make this sabbatical beneficial?

• Pray consistently for my family, and the congregation throughout the sabbatical.

• Put in extra effort to assist the church by attending regularly, serving, donating, reaching out, and praying.

• Participate FULLY in the church Program that will be happening while I'm away

  
  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. But remember, I leave on August 1st and won't be back or in contact till November 1st. If there is an emergency or concern during that time, please call an elder and they will be glad to help.

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