Sabbatical policy
The role of pastor is extremely stressful. In effect a pastor is never off duty. This long-term stress takes a toll emotionally, spiritually, and physically. If Church at the Grove desires to keep their pastors for many years, it is recommended they provide their pastors with a season of rest. Over the past year 3 out 5 pastors have seriously considered leaving the ministry.
INTRODUCTION
The concept of sabbatical is rooted in the biblical concept of “Sabbath” which God modeled and commanded throughout scripture. In Leviticus 25:1-7, the Lord says that after the sixth year the people were not supposed to sow the fields or harvest a crop. The land was allowed to rest, and therefore, so were the people. Sabbaticals have often been used in church and academia to provide a time of rest, recovery, renewal, and re-education for the individual staff member. We believe that our pastors and ministry staff should model God’s design for Sabbath rest. We believe that a time of sabbatical is important both in the sharpening and renewal of the pastor and the health and strength of the Church.
PURPOSE
The sabbatical is for the pursuit of activities approved by the governing council of the church. The intent of a sabbatical is to further the ministry objectives of the church, to enhance the personal ministry of the staff member, and to provide for physical, spiritual and relational renewal and refreshment. (It is understood that not all three intents will necessarily be fulfilled equally.)
ELIGIBILITY
A sabbatical may be granted to full-time members of the pastoral staff, whether they are ordained clergy or un-ordained pastoral staff members.
A sabbatical may be approved after the completion of the first seven years of full-time ministry at the church and every seven years thereafter. Part-time or intern years are not counted as part of the total years of service.
APPLICATION
The Senior Leadership and Elder Teams will work together to determine a timeframe best suitable for the sabbatical. When the sabbatical involves a staff member, the staff member will work out the sabbatical details with his or her direct report. A detailed sabbatical plan will be presented to the Senior Leadership and Elder Teams at the time application for a sabbatical is made. Such a plan should be presented at least six months prior to the proposed sabbatical.
The sabbatical plan should include:
Approval of a sabbatical plan is at the discretion of the Elder Team.
TIMING
A sabbatical may be approved for one to three months. Paid sabbatical time is in addition to paid vacation time for the year in which the sabbatical is taken.
The sabbatical should be scheduled at a time that will minimize the disruptive effect on the normal operation of the church (i.e. summer may be preferable).
Unless approved by the elders, no two staff members shall take a sabbatical within 6 months of each other. If a staff member’s sabbatical plans conflict, priority shall be given to the most senior staff member in terms of length of service.
REPORTS
Upon returning, the pastor will make a written or oral report to the church’s Elder Team recapping how the time was spent and what was learned.
EMPLOYEE AND CHURCH AGREEMENT ABOUT EMPLOYMENT
The employee who chooses to take a Sabbatical leave under this policy agrees to the following terms.
The church agrees to the following terms.
INTRODUCTION
The concept of sabbatical is rooted in the biblical concept of “Sabbath” which God modeled and commanded throughout scripture. In Leviticus 25:1-7, the Lord says that after the sixth year the people were not supposed to sow the fields or harvest a crop. The land was allowed to rest, and therefore, so were the people. Sabbaticals have often been used in church and academia to provide a time of rest, recovery, renewal, and re-education for the individual staff member. We believe that our pastors and ministry staff should model God’s design for Sabbath rest. We believe that a time of sabbatical is important both in the sharpening and renewal of the pastor and the health and strength of the Church.
PURPOSE
The sabbatical is for the pursuit of activities approved by the governing council of the church. The intent of a sabbatical is to further the ministry objectives of the church, to enhance the personal ministry of the staff member, and to provide for physical, spiritual and relational renewal and refreshment. (It is understood that not all three intents will necessarily be fulfilled equally.)
ELIGIBILITY
A sabbatical may be granted to full-time members of the pastoral staff, whether they are ordained clergy or un-ordained pastoral staff members.
A sabbatical may be approved after the completion of the first seven years of full-time ministry at the church and every seven years thereafter. Part-time or intern years are not counted as part of the total years of service.
APPLICATION
The Senior Leadership and Elder Teams will work together to determine a timeframe best suitable for the sabbatical. When the sabbatical involves a staff member, the staff member will work out the sabbatical details with his or her direct report. A detailed sabbatical plan will be presented to the Senior Leadership and Elder Teams at the time application for a sabbatical is made. Such a plan should be presented at least six months prior to the proposed sabbatical.
The sabbatical plan should include:
- a description of the desired sabbatical activities
- a statement of how these activities will benefit the staff member and/ or the church
- the dates selected for the sabbatical
- a budget outlining sabbatical costs for things like: travel, classes, retreats , counseling etc.. (Some financial compensation may be made, to be determined by the Elder Team)
- how the pastor’s ministry will be carried out during the sabbatical.
Approval of a sabbatical plan is at the discretion of the Elder Team.
TIMING
A sabbatical may be approved for one to three months. Paid sabbatical time is in addition to paid vacation time for the year in which the sabbatical is taken.
The sabbatical should be scheduled at a time that will minimize the disruptive effect on the normal operation of the church (i.e. summer may be preferable).
Unless approved by the elders, no two staff members shall take a sabbatical within 6 months of each other. If a staff member’s sabbatical plans conflict, priority shall be given to the most senior staff member in terms of length of service.
REPORTS
Upon returning, the pastor will make a written or oral report to the church’s Elder Team recapping how the time was spent and what was learned.
EMPLOYEE AND CHURCH AGREEMENT ABOUT EMPLOYMENT
The employee who chooses to take a Sabbatical leave under this policy agrees to the following terms.
- Because the Sabbatical leave is unlike an ordinary paid vacation in that its purpose is expressly for the future benefit of the employing church as well as for the present and future benefit of the employee, the employee agrees that as far as it depends on him or her, he or she will continue in his or her full-time service to the church for at least one year from the date of his or her return from Sabbatical leave.
The church agrees to the following terms.
- The church agrees that it will not in any way seek a replacement for an employee during his Sabbatical leave.
- The church agrees that it will honor the leave of the employee and agrees not to contact him with church business except in case of emergency.