A sabbatical (also known as Sabbath rest or sabbatical leave) is a resource for pastors and their families. It is an extended time away from the routines of normal ministry and daily life. The sabbatical is to be given as a separate time away from the local assignment and not to be considered as the pastor's vacation time.
It is a time of special renewal for the pastor that will bring personal nourishment to his/her soul, a deeper relationship with the Lord, and a clearer understanding of God's vision for the church. A sabbatical helps to prevent ministry burn-out and may give the pastor a fresh perspective for his/her ministry.
Each church can create its own individual policy regarding sabbaticals. The length of the sabbatical is based on the tenure of the pastor. The following is the policy for the General Church of the Nazarene as outlined in the Manual 129.10: "In order to encourage the lifelong learning of the pastor in spiritual, emotional and educational dimensions, the church board may consider supporting a sabbatical/study leave for the pastor during the seventh consecutive year of service in one congregation."
If a pastor meets the requirements for a sabbatical as stated above, we strongly encourage all parties to consider giving this time of renewal to the pastor. Many benefits will be reaped by both the pastor and the local church through the pastoral sabbatical program.
For further information, we have included sabbatical policies and programs from various sources explaining how a sabbatical can be designed, including definitions, responsibilities for both the pastor and the local church, important questions to be asked, examples of various types of sabbaticals, scriptural references, etc.