If your church is planning to honor your pastor, our pastor’s anniversary planning guide has practical ideas for doing it well.

By Brent Lacy

Most small church pastors have never taken a sabbatical. Many have never even considered it.

The reasons are understandable. The church cannot afford it. Nobody else can do what the pastor does. The congregation would not understand. The pastor feels guilty taking time away.

All of those concerns are real. None of them are good reasons to skip the sabbatical.

A pastor who never rests will eventually stop. Not by choice. By collapse. A sabbatical is not a luxury. It is preventive maintenance for the most important person in your church’s ministry.

What a Sabbatical Is

A sabbatical is an extended period of rest, renewal, and reflection for a pastor, typically lasting four to twelve weeks. It is distinct from vacation in that it is intentional, structured, and focused on the pastor’s long-term health and ministry effectiveness.

A sabbatical is not:

• A vacation (though rest is part of it)
• A sign that the pastor is struggling or leaving
• A reward for good performance
• An optional extra for large churches only

A sabbatical is a planned investment in the pastor’s long-term capacity to serve.

When to Take a Sabbatical

The most common sabbatical model is one sabbatical for every seven years of ministry, based on the biblical pattern of the Sabbath year. A pastor who has served a church for seven years has earned a sabbatical.

Some churches offer a shorter sabbatical (four to six weeks) every three to five years. This is especially appropriate for bi-vocational pastors who carry the additional burden of a secular job.

What the Pastor Does During a Sabbatical

A sabbatical should have a plan. Without structure, it becomes an extended vacation that does not produce the renewal it is intended to provide.

A good sabbatical plan includes:

• Rest. The first two weeks should be primarily rest. No ministry reading, no sermon prep, no church business. Just rest.
• Renewal activities. Whatever restores the pastor: extended time in Scripture and prayer, time in nature, creative pursuits, time with family, travel.
• Reflection. Journaling, spiritual direction, or a structured retreat focused on the pastor’s calling, health, and future direction.
• Learning. Reading, a course, or a conference that is not directly related to current ministry demands.

What the Church Does During a Sabbatical

The church’s job during a pastoral sabbatical is to function without the pastor. This is actually healthy for the congregation. A church that cannot function without the pastor for eight weeks has a dependency problem that the sabbatical can help address.

• Arrange guest preachers for the Sundays the pastor is away.
• Assign deacons or elders to handle pastoral care needs.
• Communicate clearly with the congregation about the sabbatical: what it is, why the pastor is taking it, and who to contact with needs.
• Protect the pastor’s sabbatical. Do not contact the pastor with church business unless there is a genuine emergency.

Funding a Sabbatical in a Small Church

The most common objection to pastoral sabbaticals in small churches is financial. Here is how to address it.

• Continue the pastor’s salary. A sabbatical is not unpaid leave. The pastor continues to receive their full compensation during the sabbatical.
• Budget for guest preachers. Guest preachers typically receive $100 to $300 per Sunday. Budget for this in advance.
• Apply for sabbatical grants. Several foundations offer sabbatical grants for pastors, including the Lilly Endowment’s National Clergy Renewal Program. These grants can cover travel, lodging, and program costs.
• Build a sabbatical fund. Set aside a small amount each month toward a sabbatical fund. Even $50 per month over five years is $3,000 toward sabbatical expenses.

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