"And on the seventh day God rested." - Genesis 2:2

Too often the term "pastor's day off" is referred to as an oxymoron revealing a sad truth about the work load and stressful life of an average pastor. Much needed time away from professional commitments and intensity of church leadership is the rare exception instead of the standard.

An occasional day off is not enough. There comes a time when personal growth, knowledge or renewal require an extended leave of absence. These leaves, called sabbaticals, can vary from one to six months and are generally offered every five to seven years. A sabbatical can provide relief from "burn-out," a time for skill building, or both.

The word sabbatical is rooted in the Biblical concept of Sabbath which involves ceasing, rest, worship, play and reflection. It is an opportunity to experience the gift of renewal that God offers each one of us. Sabbatical reflects the Biblical practice of letting the land lie fallow every seven years. This allows the earth to replenish itself so that it continues to bear fruit. Sabbatical offers the pastor the gift of time to experience the fullness of Sabbath restoration, trusting that God will renew the work of the church when the pastor returns.

A well-planned sabbatical can provide an opportunity for congregational growth and maturity. For example:

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• Contribute to Lay Education - A variety of preachers afford church members the opportunity to be taught in different voices on a wide variety of subjects. Also, lay persons can be given the opportunity to speak.
  
  
• Engage the Congregation in Growth Through Leadership - Lay volunteers can assist with some of the duties that clergy provided during the planned for absence. These could include teaching, visitation and administration. Lists of office duties should be documented and schedules available.

Provide consistent pastoral care coverage. In addition to the Sunday preaching, coverage for emergencies should be provided for the congregation during the sabbatical.

Thorough preparation well in advance of the sabbatical is critical to its success. A planning team should be organized to develop a plan for the pastor's absence. The answers to these key questions are the heart of a sabbatical plan:

• What are the dates of the sabbatical?
  
  
• How much time do we have to prepare for the sabbatical?
  
  
• How will we staff?
  
  
• What if we have an emergency and need a minister?
  
  
• Whom will we contact if we have a specific question?
  
  
• How can we help?
  
  
• How will we be kept informed?
  
  
• Do we have adequate resources to provide guest ministers?
  
  
• How do we benefit from the pastor's sabbatical?
  

The team should prepare a plan of objectives for the pastor's sabbatical. This plan could include goals such as quality family time, personal study (books or courses that have been put off), hobbies and travel.

Upon the pastor's return, a published report and a special reception which welcomes the pastor will give the congregation an opportunity to share in this special time. It will also further their understanding of the importance of the Sabbath in everyone's life.