Is It Time for a Rest? Four Experts Weigh in on Chief Questions about Your Sabbatical

By Chris Moon

Are you thinking about taking your first sabbatical? 

You probably have a lot of questions. How do you know you really need a sabbatical? How do you talk to your ministry leaders about it? What should they do while you are gone? What’s it going to be like when you get back? 

Christian Standard is here to help. 

We interviewed four experts about how to plan for a sabbatical—from how to have those early conversations with your church leaders to exactly what you ought to do during your time away. 

Our experts consisted of three pastors who have taken multiple sabbaticals during their long tenures at their churches, along with a longtime sabbatical coach. 

Right off the bat, they said you should get personalized help in planning your sabbatical.  

You could find a sabbatical coach, or you could solicit advice from seasoned pastors. 

Marty Wright has been on three sabbaticals during his 28 years as minister at Ogilville Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana. 

“At the very least, I would say you should talk to someone who has done one,” Wright said. 

Is it Time for Your Sabbatical? 

But first things first. How does a pastor know it’s time to take a sabbatical? 

That’s easy, said sabbatical coach Jim Cofield, associate director at CrossPoint Ministry based in Louisville, Kentucky. If you think it might be time for a sabbatical, it is. 

“Most pastors are more tired than they realize,” said Cofield, who has advised many pastors on sabbatical. “You won’t find out how tired you are until you get on a sabbatical. The first month: ‘Wow, I’m sleeping a lot,’ or ‘Wow, I’m pretty anxious.’ When you give yourself permission to start feeling what goes on in your soul, you will be surprised what you notice.” 

Your relationships will suffer when you are chronically tired, Cofield said. That even extends to your relationship with God.  

“Our vocation sets us up for God-fatigue,” he said. “We’re in the Scripture because we have to get something ready for the next talk, the next sermon. What’s it like to be a friend of God right now?” 

Greg Lee, lead pastor at Suncrest Christian Church in St. John, Ind., has taken multiple sabbaticals during his 29 years at the church.  

If you need a sabbatical, your key leaders and friends will let you know—hopefully gently. 

“Some way they (may be) experiencing me is signaling, ‘Hey, I should pay attention to it,’” Lee said.  

What Should You Say to Your Elders? 

Once you decide it’s time for a sabbatical, you’ll need to get the go-ahead from your church leaders.  

Not all elders may be receptive to the idea of their pastor disappearing—with full pay—for multiple months. Most probably don’t get to enjoy that benefit in their own careers.   

The advice from the experts: Get someone to advocate on your behalf.  

Find a trusted person who can explain the benefits of a sabbatical and why ministry is a unique vocation.  

Cofield said he might ask a reluctant elder: “I appreciate that you didn’t get (a sabbatical in your career), but would you have liked one? And if you would have liked one, why not give one if you are part of a chance to bless like that?” 

The apostle Paul wrote about his “burden” for the churches, Cofield said. 

“We’re talking about the souls of people. That’s pretty heavy,” he said. “Many pastors get betrayed or abandoned by people in the church who they thought were with them and for them. The pain adds up over the years.” 

Lee, of Suncrest Christian Church, said he’s informally advised other churches about sabbaticals for their pastors. “If you want your pastor to stay another five years, this is a great way to do that,” he said. 

But Lee said you should give your church a “runway.” Suggest the idea of taking a sabbatical a year or two from now—so your leaders can get accustomed to the idea. 

Of course, some churches make things simple by building in time for their pastoral staff to take sabbaticals every seven years. Lee’s Suncrest Christian Church is one example. So is Timber Lake Christian Church in Moberly, Missouri. 

Timber Lake’s children’s minister, Mary Green, said the elders allow a four-to six-week break every seven years. Green has taken multiple sabbaticals during her 29 years on staff. 

“We have an amazing group of men who truly care about us here on staff,” she said. 

How Can You Fund Your Sabbatical? 

Sabbaticals aren’t free, of course.  

If you want to get out of town for a significant period of time on your sabbatical, you’re going to have to come up with a way to pay for it. And the church will need to cover your job responsibilities while you’re gone. Pulpit supply isn’t free. 

Wright said some churches put money into a sabbatical fund. If they save $3,000 to $5,000 per year for seven years, those churches would have $21,000 to $35,000 ready to go every time a pastor is due a sabbatical.  

At the same time, some churches find grant money to fund their pastors’ sabbaticals.  

The most prominent of those grants comes through Lilly Endowment Inc., which offers a “clergy renewal” grant up to $60,000 for a pastor’s sabbatical. 

Both Wright and Lee have taken Lilly-funded sabbaticals. The Lilly grants are competitive, and churches aren’t guaranteed to receive one. But it’s worth a shot, they said. 

Lee said Suncrest Christian Church encourages its pastors to apply for the Lilly grant. If that fails, the church still offers a one-month sabbatical and $5,000 to assist with expenses. 

It’s not a $60,000 Lilly grant, Lee concedes, “But it’s not nothing.” 

What Should You Do on Your Sabbatical? 

You name it. 

Cofield, the sabbatical coach, advises his clients to spend time doing anything they find to be “restful and re-creating.” It might be long hikes. It might be landscaping.  

It’s up to you. 

But Cofield said you should get out of town as soon as you can, for at least a portion of your sabbatical, “so your body knows it’s doing something different.” 

Lee, of Suncrest Christian Church, took two international trips. One of those was to an impoverished part of Liberia, Africa. Lee’s two children, ages 8 and 10, came along, too. 

“It’s the experience we wanted our family to have,” he said. “Our kids were exposed to lots of things we wanted them to be exposed to.” 

Good things can emerge from those trips. 

Wright, of Ogilville Christian Church, recalled spending a string of nights in hotel rooms with his family on his first sabbatical. The talks with the kids before bedtime were illuminating—about topics that wouldn’t have come up otherwise. 

“We always have valued that first sabbatical because of things like that,” Wright said.  

What About Going on a Retreat? 

It’s a good idea to consider, our experts said. 

Go be alone with the Lord. 

“Ministers are almost never alone,” Wright said. 

Green, of Timber Lake Christian Church, has spent time at retreat centers operated by Broom Tree Ministries. For an affordable fee, she has gotten a week’s lodging, three meals a day, and regular meetings with a host ministry couple.  

While there, Green is shut off from technology. Chunks of her time are unscheduled, but some activities might be scheduled. 

Green recalled one retreat where guests were brought into a woodshop where they worked at a wood lathe, crafting pens or pencils.  

Green remembered watching the lathe spinning a piece of wood. Only when the lathe stopped could you really see the sharp edges that needed to be honed down.  

It’s a helpful metaphor. 

“I still keep that pencil hanging on my wall in my office to remind myself about slowing down and coming to a stop and recognizing it’s not about me. What is most important is spending time with God,” Green said. 

What are Some Challenges You Might Face on a Sabbatical? 

Some pastors struggle to slow down—to rest.  

“That’s called addiction,” said Cofield, the sabbatical coach. 

He said long slow walks might help, asking yourself things like, “What is it about me that I’m so afraid of facing, so my mind just races?” 

Reading books on your sabbatical is good, but not required, Cofield said. Definitely don’t read books about how to be a better pastor, although it might be tempting. 

“If you want to read, read some good literature,” Cofield said. 

Wright said some pastors might use their time away to question whether they want to continue in the ministry. Sabbaticals aren’t best used for that. 

Interestingly, Wright said, the Lilly Endowment requires pastors who receive its sabbatical grant to commit to remaining in ministry for one year after returning from their sabbaticals. And churches must agree not to dismiss those pastors for a year. 

“Sabbaticals work best when the church is healthy and the pastor is healthy,” he said. “These are less ideal as a prescription for someone who is frustrated and angry and hurt in ministry. It is better prescribed for someone who is loving ministry.”  

What Else Is There to Know? 

You likely have more questions about your sabbatical. Here are a few quick-hitters from our experts. 

Should You Go to Church on Your Sabbatical?  

You might find it refreshing—especially if it’s not your own church. 

“To worship at church (where) you have no responsibilities, that can be really powerful,” Green said. 

What will Happen at Your Church when You’re Gone?  

Your church might lose some momentum, but it might not. Our experts said there are no guarantees.  

But you might develop some new leaders while you’re away. “One thing that’s really important that happens on sabbatical is the minister has to turn over responsibilities to other people in the church,” Wright said. “When you come back, you almost never pick back up some of those responsibilities.” 

What’s it Going to be Like when You get Back to Work? 

You might face some high expectations, Lee said. People might anticipate a lot from that first sermon. After all, you’ve just been to the “mountaintop. “You have to pay attention and just be comfortable in your own skin,” he said. Your elders can help temper expectations. Your break is about rest, not intensive study and professional development, Lee said. 

What’s One Good Thing You’ll Gain from a Sabbatical? 

Time.  

That was Wright’s answer. “You’ll be able to have time—you, the Lord, your family. It’s kind of a neat space,” he said. 

You won’t need to leave your family in the middle of a conversation to attend to the church’s needs. You won’t be on-call 24/7.  “That’s one thing you get. That, for me, was beautiful,” Wright said. 

Chris Moon is a pastor and writer living in Redstone, Colorado.