Should Your Pastor Have a Sabbatical?

The Senior Pastor of my church takes a one-month “study break” every year. But that’s not a sabbatical. A sabbatical is an extended period of time when a pastor or full time Christian leader is released from their “day job” to get away, to grow spiritually, relationally and emotionally and perhaps to study a spiritual topic of personal interest.

A friend of mine is the founding pastor of a large church, Christian school and several other ministries in California. In response to a family crisis, his church gave him a sabbatical. That time away was so powerful and refreshing that upon his return he wrote the following open letter to his church.

This blog is super long, but I’m praying that if you are a leader in your church you’ll invest the time to read it and then ask the Holy Spirit if you should be an advocate for your pastor to him/her one of the greatest gifts a grateful and wise congregation can give your pastor – rest.