We send you now on this Sabbatical journey confident that God will bless your every step, refresh your spirit, renew your mind, strengthen your body, and return you to us empowered for our continued task of ministry in (name of congregational city/town), and in the world.

In our busy American culture we usually work beyond the dawn-to-dusk work day and often neglect to really rest on the seventh day. Reclaiming the Sabbath and sabbaticals helps us get our needed rest so we can work in a healthier way and with a higher quality of performance. A sabbatical is a time to be released from normal duties so that the pastor may devote time to rest and renewal, then focused study and planning. Sabbaticals have long been a practice in the field of education and in recent years many businesses and congregations have also been implementing them.

As I have reflected on my recently completed sabbatical time, I believe that God put me into a place where the Holy Spirit could breathe new life into my life and ministry. Just as the apostles in the early days of the church brought a new passion into their work of spreading the good news of the Gospel, so I believe I have returned after 3 months away with a renewed sense of call and purpose.

It is important for both the congregation and the rostered leaders (pastor's, associates in ministry, and diaconal ministers) to realize the importance of the leader's life-long continuing education through workshops, seminary courses and personal study. We have long been encouraged to provide time and financial assistance to enable pastors and other rostered leaders to maintain and improve their skills. From time to time, however, it is very beneficial to the pastor, associate in ministry or diaconal minister and the congregation for there to be an extended period of time for study, personal growth and renewal without the demands of daily parish responsibilities.

Through ministry effectiveness and longevity, the church benefits when its pastors are allowed sabbatical time for professional and personal renewal. In order to make possible such times of leave, we enter together into the following partnership and covenant:

A sabbatical leave is understood to be a time of release from normal duties in order that a pastor may devote time to renewal and study. A sabbatical leave is understood as an integral and important part of an overall strategy for enhancing the mission of the congregation through pastoral renewal, development, and growth.