This summer my congregation gifted me with a 13-week sabbatical. It provided a level of rest I didn’t know I needed, and a degree of renewal I didn’t think was possible. It will forever shape the course and quality of my ministry, and my heart is filled with gratitude for everyone who made it possible, and for God’s grace most of all.
My sabbatical theme was “thin places” and it focused on spending time alone and with my family, in places where the veil between heaven and earth seems thin—where God seems closer. Specifically for me that meant time in the mountains, at the sea, and in the wilderness. Our family adventures in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and along the central California coast have already given us many cherished memories. My silent retreat at a hermitage in Big Sur afforded much needed time for discernment and rediscovering my vocational identity. And finally, a once-in-a-lifetime solo pilgrimage to the Faroe Islands was personally and spiritually transformative in ways I will continue to unpack for the rest of my life.
This being my first sabbatical, I learned much about how to prepare for and enjoy the time away, as well as how to return well. It also impressed upon me the value of a good sabbatical. I hope these lessons and observations can help others make the most of their own sabbatical should they ever have the chance to take one (and if you have the chance, take it!).
HOW TO PREPARE
1. Start Early
The first and perhaps most important lesson for good sabbatical preparation is to start early, especially if you will be applying for grant money. I recommend at least eight-12 months, and more like 18 months if you will be applying for a large grant such as the National Clergy Renewal Program through the Lily Foundation. I started planning about seven months beforehand, and it was barely enough time.
2. Make it worthwhile.
A sabbatical is the perfect time for BHAGs—big, hairy, audacious goals. Don’t let doubts about funding stop you from dreaming big. The money is out there, and the more ambitious your plans, the more likely your church is to support you. I initially debated about whether to include a trip to the Faroe Islands. But that is what inspired my congregation the most, and their generosity followed. I received the Board of Pensions Sabbath Sabbatical Grant for which I applied, but most of the funding came from my own church! Don’t just plan what you think you afford; plan for what will make your heart sing, and then find the money.
3. Involve your family and the church.
Do everything you can to make it “our” sabbatical. Dream with your family and friends and listen to their input. Sometimes they know better than you what truly restores your soul. And right from the start, include your church. Tell them what you want to do, but don’t forget to ask them how they can make the most of your time away. Help them build anticipation for different preachers, church celebrations, and maybe even their own time of rest (from programs, etc.). One elder asked me, “Can we throw a party while you’re away?” I replied, “Yes!” Help your church identify dreams of their own, and teach them to expect God to show up in new ways while you’re gone.
HOW TO ENJOY
Conventional wisdom says that pastors should completely disconnect from ministry-related work during a sabbatical, and that is absolutely true. Dallas Willard said that pastors “need to be taken out of circulation for a sufficiently long time to re-vision and re-structure their lives in communion with Jesus and his kingdom.”
1. Clearly Communicate Expectations of Contact
The first key to enjoying your sabbatical, then, is to clearly communicate to your congregation that there will be no contact between you. Tell them you won’t answer calls, texts, or e-mails. Set up a sabbatical team to fill the gaps left by your absence, and draft a guide that designates points of contact in the church and the presbytery in the case of certain situations. As a solo pastor in a small town, I told people that if we bumped into each other around town it was okay to say hello, but not to discuss the sabbatical or church business.
2. Choose practices that will provide rhythm and routine to your sabbatical.
Although you are weighing anchor from ministry, you don’t want to just drift in the doldrums. Include practices that will put wind in your sails. Whether these are classic spiritual practices such as prayer, fasting, etc., or practices tailored to your personal growth and enjoyment, they will provide much-needed regularity to your sabbatical experience. The simpler, the better.
3. Make adjustments as needed.
Odds are your sabbatical plans will not go off without a hitch. Problems and obstacles will arise, and schedule changes may be needed. You may even discern the need to adapt your sabbatical plan based on personal or family needs. I had planned for a week of solitude at my parents’ cabin in the mountains. Instead I decided to spend that week at home because it seemed better for me and my family to be together before our boys went back to school. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments, but do keep in mind that if those adjustments have significant financial implications, you may need to report them to your funding sources.
HOW TO RETURN
Planning for reentry is a crucial aspect of a good sabbatical.
1. Plan unscheduled time before re-entry
First, allow 10-14 days of unscheduled time at home before returning to work. This cushion of time will let you catch your breath before you start running again. Because of unavoidable scheduling changes, I only had six days at home before returning, and it was not enough.
2. Express gratitude repeatedly.
Spend the first two months upon return saying “thank you” to as many people as you can. Say it in person, write cards, mention it in sermons, and write it in e-mails and newsletters. Write specific thank you letters to anyone who gave money. You really can’t over-thank people, and you definitely don’t want to under-thank them.
3. Tell stories.
Include stories from your sabbatical in your sermons, newsletters, and conversations. If you’re a natural storyteller this will happen easily. If you are not then make a plan for how and when to do it. Schedule a church dinner where you talk about your sabbatical and show pictures. When you tell stories about your sabbatical, it becomes real for the congregation. It invites them in and makes them feel like they were part of it. It makes them feel that their investment of time and money was worthwhile, which will make them more likely to support future sabbaticals for their pastors.
THE VALUE
It’s hard to appreciate the value of a sabbatical until you have taken one yourself. I’m sure I will continue discovering the benefits of my sabbatical in the months ahead, but already there are three that stand out.
1. Rest
The first and most obvious value to a sabbatical is rest. A sabbatical provides a level of rest that goes beyond even the most ideal vacations. Do not underestimate the value of prolonged, sabbath rest! Asking whether you need such rest is the wrong question. The right question is whether you will benefit from it, and I am convinced you will. I certainly did.
2. A Break from the Routine
A second value of a good sabbatical is simply the break from ministry routine. If you stay in a context long enough it becomes so normal that you no longer notice, like a fish that doesn’t know it’s in water. A sabbatical is deliberately long enough to allow forgetfulness. It provides a holy amnesia so that when you return you can see and evaluate your context with fresh insight.
3. Anchoring for your Soul
A third value of a sabbatical is to provide a kind of mnemonic anchor for your soul. It gives you something to remember, a memory of God’s presence that can sustain you in the years ahead. One of the best antidotes to our present doubt is God’s past faithfulness. As you press on in ministry and face new challenges and opportunities, you can frequently return to the memories of your sabbatical and find renewal. The God who was with you on sabbatical is still with you on Sunday mornings, in Session meetings, and in every season of life.
Ultimately every sabbatical is unique, but the wisdom and experience of others can help yours be as fruitful as possible. A good sabbatical takes work and planning, but it is absolutely worth it. May you discover that for yourself one day, if you haven’t already.
The Rev. David Dack is a 2011 graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and currently serves as the pastor of Lemoore Presbyterian Church in Lemoore, Calif.