The Bridge in Plain Text
Issue To Be Used Any Time After
June 1, 2007
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The Bridge
A monthly publication of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
Connecting the congregational, synodical, and churchwide expressions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
So Your Pastor Wants a Sabbatical?
An excerpt of “Creating a Sabbatical Plan” by John R. Gugel (Lutheran
Partners, July/August 2001, Volume 17, Number 4)
A sabbatical is a period of
time (usually three months) during which rostered ministers set aside their
normal responsibilities at congregations or agencies of the church for the
purpose of renewal.
Sabbaticals are not just for
pastors. The ELCA encourages its congregations and related agencies to offer
sabbaticals to all rostered ministers: pastors, associates in ministry,
deaconesses, and diaconal ministers.
[the inclusive terms
"minister" and "rostered minister" cover all staff persons who are eligible
for sabbaticals.]
A sabbatical is not an
extended vacation. It should not be used to "escape" from problems in the
parish, nor should it be spent exploring other career options. The academic
model of sabbatical, with its focus on intensive study and research, is also
different from the sabbatical that congregations provide for their rostered
ministers.
Congregational sabbaticals
focus on the total person the minister's physical, emotional, spiritual,
and intellectual needs. It offers a minister the chance to break the routine
of daily ministry and do something very different.
It creates space for
creativity, rest, and renewal. It gives the minister the marvelous gift of
time time to use totally as the minister chooses. A sabbatical leave is a
way for a congregation to express how much it values the minister.
The concept of sabbatical is
grounded on the biblical idea of Sabbath rest. The example of Jesus, who
frequently sought out a quiet place where he could meditate and pray, away
from the constant demands of the crowds, is a strong model for a sabbatical.
Sabbaticals offer ministers a
chance to step away from the long hours of work, to find healing and rest,
and then to return to their place of call equipped and refreshed to
inaugurate new ways of being in ministry.
Sabbaticals are offered after
the minister completes six years of continuous service in one place. Credit
for years served does not pass from one call to another, and the minister is
obligated to stay at the congregation for at least one full year after
returning from her/his sabbatical.
Rostered ministers should
start planning their sabbatical in consultation with the parish Mutual
Ministry Committee one year prior to going on sabbatical.
Featured Resources
-
Lutheran Parnters (source of
this article) -
www.elca.org/lutheranpartners
-
Want to talk about a
sabbatical for you or someone in your congregation? Call the Southeastern
Minnesota Synod office at 507-280-9457 or 800-426-6376 (MN only)
Monthly Bible Verse
This Bible verse was selected by Harold Usgaard, bishop of the
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, for everyone in the synod to study.
“For in six days the Lord made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them but rested the seventh
day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. ” Exodus
20:11
About Our Synod
The Southeastern Minnesota Synod is a faith community of 130,000 baptized
people in 184 congregations as well as related institutions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Its geographic area includes
15 counties in the southeastern corner of Minnesota.
The Bridge is a monthly
publication of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA. For more information,
contact the synod office:
Southeastern Minnesota Synod,
ELCA
1001 14th St. NW, Suite 300
Rochester, MN 55901-2551
(507) 280-9457
www.semnsynod.org
This issue is designed to be
used any time after June 1, 2007.
Graphics from this issue
Right-click the link and choose "save to disk" to save the
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are in high-resolution tiff format. If you require another format, please
call 507-280-9457.
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